Spiritual Information You Must Know About to be Saved

“There are so much blasphemy, adultery, lust, pride, vanity, immodest clothing, idol-making of mortal human beings, greed, gluttony and sinful deeds and speech among countless other sins in today’s media, that it is a real abomination and sickening to behold! It is in fact a real and eternal spiritual slaughter of billions of people...”

Most
people of this generation, even those who profess themselves
Christian, are so fallen away in morals that even the debauched
people who lived a hundred years ago would be ashamed of the many
things people today enjoy. And this is exactly what the devil had
planned from the start, to step by step lowering the standard of
morality in the world through the media until, in fact, one cannot
escape to sin mortally by watching it with the intention of enjoying
oneself. Yes to watch ungodly media only for enjoyment or pleasure or
for to waste time (which could be used for God), as most people do,
is mortally sinful.

54
years ago (1956), Elvis Presley had to be filmed above the waist up
on a tv-show because of a hip-swiveling movement. Not that it was an
acceptable performance, everything tending towards sensuality is an
abomination, but still it serves to prove how much the decline has
come since then, when even the secular press deemed inappropriate
what today would be looked upon as nothing. But even at that time, in
major Hollywood films like The Ten Commandments, could be seen both
women and men that are incredibly immodestly dressed. The fall and
decline of morals have been in progress ever since the invention of
motion picture. God allowed this deceit to be invented because of
people’s sins, especially for sins of the flesh. The media have
such power that it preconditions peoples mind in such a way - since
people look at TV as reality - that what was shameful yesterday will
be the norm today! So if the media shows immodesty as norm, norm it
will become!

“Know
also this, that, in the last days, shall come dangerous times. Men
shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, haughty, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked, without affection,
without peace, slanderers, incontinent, unmerciful, without kindness,
Traitors, stubborn, puffed up, and lovers of pleasures more than of
God: Having an appearance indeed of godliness, but denying the power
thereof. Now these avoid.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

TV-SERIES,
FILMS, CARTOONS

We
already know that almost everything on television will have the most
abominable impurities and abominations presented in them so that a
parent should be appalled by it and refuse his children to even take
part of it, but this, sadly, is not the case for most. You will be
amazed at how far this goes. Even children cartoons which one could
think was acceptable and modest, is far from acceptable or modest but
even many times worse then the general media broadcasted for older
viewers, which will be dealt with shortly.

Firstly,
you will almost always see fornication and adultery or other sexual
impurities and sins of the flesh presented throughout the godless
media as the norm to live, along with a rejection of the traditional
way that people lived in before the beginning of 19th
century. The sexual suggestions and perversions are endless in these
shows. To sit and watch such shows or to allow your children to watch
such shows is not only insanity but a clear mortal sin.

Secondly,
there is a comedic part on almost every show which seems to hold no
sin, but when examined closely will be revealed for what it really
is. For gloating (also called disability humor) which is a most
abominable and uncharitable sin will most certainly be impossible to
escape if you watch TV-series! This odious sin of gloating prevails
in every kind of media such as cartoons, films and shows, where
people are beating each other or laughing at the different calamities
or stupidities that another person will experience. Think about how
evil this is: to laugh at another person’s calamity or sorrow!
Yet, you cannot escape seeing this when you watch TV! Do to others as
you would have them do to you, was one of the commandments of our
Lord! (Matthew 7:12) - You would not want someone laughing or making
fun of your calamities and miss-happenings, yet we laugh and approve
it when sad things happen to others? Then we have the constant jokes
about the Christian religion with countless of derogatory words
uttered in a most blasphemous spirit by the media when it tries to
depict how utterly stupid, foolish, and out of date it is to be a
firm Bible believing Christian. The constant ridicule and mockery of
God and the Christian religion should be sufficient cause for
rejecting this mortally sinful filth entirely! Again, you would not
approve of a show that blasphemed you, a friend, child or wife, yet
you watch shows making a mockery of God and religion which is worth
infinitely more than weak human beings.

Thirdly,
we have the specifically evil sin of immodest clothing and make-up
which every show holds as law to be followed, and there is no
exception in cartoons for children. Most women-characters are half
dressed or half naked in these cartoons showing off their whole body
in a sexually suggestive way. This, in fact, is what the devil wants,
for he preconditions children's sexuality to grow at a young age. The
little mermaid for example, the main character in the Disney movie
called “The Little Mermaid”, is completely naked from the
waist up except for a small covering of sea shells over her breasts
which is outrageous to say the least! Sadly, this is how most
characters dress! The woman-character in Aladdin the movie is
immodestly dressed showing most parts of her body. She even sexually
seduces one of the males in a scene for whatever reason, and this is
what our kids are watching and learning, from Satan himself! If you
have allowed your children to watch such things, you should be
ashamed of yourself!

There
is a perfect reason why young children become sexually active at a
young age. Young children watching such films and shows imitates the
behavior, movements and way of acting by the characters; for example:
the eye-rollings, the seducing of men or of women, the hip-swirlings
and the seducing way of moving the body and the seducing way of
walking, etc.

Tinker
bell, a character featured in many Disney shows, is considered to be
one of the most important branding icons of Disney, (according to
Wikipedia sources).

“Tinker
Bell is illustrated as a young (sexy), blonde haired, big blue eyed,
white female, with an exaggerated hour-glass (model-shaped) figure.
She is clad in a short lime-green (ultra revealing miniskirt) dress
with a rigid trim, and green slippers with white puffs. She is
trailed by small amounts of pixie dust when she moves, and this dust
can help humans fly if they 'believe' it will (we will see more of the
magic fairy tale crap and 'belief' in the occult, all for our children to
watch as we move along). Some critics have complained that Tinker Bell is
too sexually suggestive.” (And this is supposed to be a character for
children movies. Outrageous to say the least, even the secular world
agrees!)

These
are just some of the examples I can come to think of, and my
knowledge about children shows is very limited. One with more
knowledge could easily fill a number of volumes on the same subject.

The
sin of immodest clothing and make-up brings up innumerable impure and
lustful thoughts, which is just what the devil wants when he incites
people to commit these sins of immodest clothing and painting the
face with makeup, as only harlots and heathens did until recently
when “Catholics” started to follow this trend. Those who
do these things, do them for the sole reason of making others lust at
them, or for to make themselves seem more attractive to others. This
is sinful to say the least and very displeasing to God.

Billions
of souls are burning now as we speak in the excruciating fire of hell
since they were tempted to sexual impurities in their thoughts by the
media they watched! Will you follow them or let your children follow
them and be the cause of your greater sorrow, when on top of being
condemned, you must endure to be tormented forevermore by your own
child? Absolute madness! You must hinder your child to use makeup and
immodest clothing at any cost! You can only hope to save yourself
from hell if you do everything in your power to prevent your children
going there. Are you? If they refuse to obey you, throw them out! If
they are youngsters, why then don't they obey you? There is a perfect
reason why sacred scripture commands chastisement in the education of
our children!

“He
that loveth his son, frequently chastiseth him, that he may rejoice
in his latter end... Give thy son his way, and he shall make thee
afraid: play with him, and he shall make thee sorrowful. Laugh not
with him, lest thou have sorrow, and at the last thy teeth be set on
edge. Give him not liberty in his youth, and wink not at his devices.
Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat his sides while he is a
child, lest he grow stubborn, and regard thee not, and so be a sorrow
of heart to thee. Instruct thy son, and labour about him, lest his
lewd behaviour be an offence to thee.” (Ecclesiasticus 30:1-13)

Don't
be fooled by the world. You do no sin whatsoever before God if you
chastise your children in the education of righteousness. The world,
or in truth, Satan, who rule this world, has made laws that says
chastisement of children are wrong. This is one of many reasons he
has succeeded to achieve the downfall of society! Remember that
rebellious and ungodly children were one of the end times prophecies
that the Bible mentioned (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Fourthly,
there is the abominable and mortal sin of blasphemy which is uttered
in almost every TV- show, even going so far as to exchange the name
of God, Jesus or Christ for curse words. A few hundred years ago,
people would have been horrified to commit this sin since it was then
rightly punished by execution. But now, people commit this sin
constantly and without fear, without anyone raising an eyebrow. Yet,
when death comes, all blasphemers will open their eyes and find that
they are in a sea of fire to burn and be tormented for all eternity.
If you watch things which contain blasphemy, which would be almost
every film or show in this age, then you are literally sick and
despicable and Hell will be long for you unless you repent
immediately and resolve to never do so again. Death will come and
grab you whether you like it or not.

Fifthly,
there is the universal acceptance of false religions, magic and
occultism which was rightly punishable by death earlier in our
history but which now is norm in the media. You will see the horrible
sin of magic and occultism in every kind of TV-show; for example, in
animated cartoons it's almost 'always' the norm; it is also a
frequent occurrence on other shows broadcasted for the general public
such as Buffy the vampire slayer, Charmed, Sabrina the Teenage Witch,
etc! Many famous comedies are also making this evil filth seem fun
and acceptable. But then again, the norm of comedian shows is to make
fun of things that are abominable and sinful. A person cannot watch
comedy-shows without being guilty of grave sin, for how can a person
take delight and laugh about things which displease God?

Just
to show you how far the sin of idolatry, magic, new age and occultism
have come in the media, the following will be presented about the
major blockbuster movie hit, Avatar.

This
article will prove that a person watching media will be forced to
agree or disagree with a number of events that unfolds throughout the
storyline, and every time a person agrees with or fails to disagree
with that which is against God, he in fact commits a grave sin. This
is what makes the watching of media so deadly. People nowadays don’t
fathom the severity of this crime but it is easily understood to be a
most evil crime when one realizes that God will judge our every
thought as a deed.

“James
Cameron’s, Avatar, is a movie where worshipping a tree and
communing with spirits are not only acceptable; they are attractive.
Avatar is also markedly pantheistic and essentially, the gospel
according to James Cameron. This pantheistic theme that equates God
with the forces and laws of the universe is outwardly depicted by the
heroes and heroine in the movie who all worship Eywa, the "All
Mother" Goddess, who is described as "a network of energy”
that “flows through all living things.”

“Overall,
the movie is strewn with ritualistic magic, communion with spirits,
shamanism, and blatant idolatry as it conditions the audience to
believe these pagan occult lies. In addition, the audience is led to
sympathize with the Avatar and even ends up pulling for him as he is
initiated into pagan rituals. Even the lead scientist becomes a pagan
in the end, proclaiming that she is "with Eywa, she's real,"
and goes to be with her upon her death.”

People
nowadays don’t fathom the severity of this crime of magic,
idolatry and paganism but it is easily understood to be a most evil
crime when one realizes that magicians and occultists are communing
with the devil when they do their magical rituals or offerings,
whether it be worshipping a tree or stone, or something made by human
hand. We are constantly being bombarded throughout the media to
accept, magic, paganism, spiritualism, occultists, etc, in other
words, false religions, which clearly shows that Satan is involved
here.

Psalms
95:5- “For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils…”

1
Cor. 10:20- “But the things which the heathens sacrifice, they
sacrifice to devils, and not to God. And I would not that you should
be made partakers with devils.”

If
someone were to make a show that presented child perversion
paedophilia as a good and normal thing to do, everyone would be
appalled, but now the worldly media present the communing with demons
as something good and allowable and no one raises an eyebrow. To
watch such filth is mortally sinful and your torment in hell will be
eternal if you watch such things or allow your children to watch such
things.

Sixthly,
there is the most evil sin of greed and love of possessions which is
showed universally on TV as something good and praiseworthy to
follow. You will see the most extravagant displays of worldly
excesses! This is abominable first off, since every kind of excess is
an affront against the many poor people who don’t have enough
money to even feed themselves with, and secondly since it tempts
people to seek these useless and unnecessary things such as expensive
cars, houses, and golden necklaces etc… instead of being
content with food, clothing and shelter as the Apostle tells us to
be. If God judges even every thought that you will have, how much
more will He not judge deeds which is what watching ungodly media is!

It
should also be understood that media gives the person who watches it
a drug-like experience, an experience of false and unholy fire. The
most dangerous effect from media is the dream state it puts a person
into. After watching something worldly which made an impression, this
is what will occupy your mind and your feelings for most part of the
day or even weeks to come. From the blockbuster movie Avatar, this
demonstration can be seen clearer. A news article published in the
Economic Times reads as following:

'Avatar' driving us to
suicide, say fans

LOS ANGELES: 'Avatar' may have
enthralled worldwide audiences with its imagery of an utopian alien
world but movie-goers have complained of depression and even suicidal
thoughts after watching the sci-fi hit.

Fans of James Cameron's 3D
magnum opus are seemingly finding it hard to separate fact from
fiction and Internet forums have been flooded with posts by
movie-goers plagued with suicidal thoughts about not being able to
visit the planet Pandora, reported CNN online. North American fan
site 'Avatar Forums' has received 2,000 posts under a thread entitled
'Ways to cope with the depression of the dream of Pandora being
intangible'.

Forum administrator Philippe
Baghdassarian said, "The movie was so beautiful and it showed
something we don't have here on earth. I think people saw we could be
living in a completely different world and that caused them to be
depressed."

Forum user 'Okoi' writes, "After
I watched 'Avatar' at the first time, I truly felt depressed as I
'wake' up in this world again."

It
should be understood that this depression arise from a lack of faith
in God. The world they really long for is not a fairy tale dream
world as depicted in the movie Avatar, but in fact the realm of
Heaven and the eternal vision of God – for this is where all
humanity were destined to come to had they abstained from sinning and
loving the world through their five senses. No one can be happy
without God, for God is happiness. Depression arises from a guilty
conscience when a person refuses to do what he should to achieve
salvation and the eternal vision of God. Satan is exchanging a
longing of the real Heaven in people’s minds for a longing of
fairy-tale-dreams in the media. Saddening to say the least!

A
Christian should be spending his time on growing in his faith by
praying, reading, and other good works, but most people do instead
the contrary, and wastes most of their time on useless tales and
fables, which will occupy their minds instead of God. That is why
evil media leads countless souls to eternal damnation and the
torments of hell. And this is also a clear fulfillment of end times
prophecies, which said many would turn from God unto fables and fairy
tales. Are you one of those prophesied about?

“For
there shall be a time, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but,
according to their own desires, they will heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears: And
will indeed turn away their hearing from the truth, but will be
turned unto fables.”
(2 Timothy 4:3-4)

This
prophecy also predicted the false theory of evolution which a
Christian, of course, cannot believe in since it contradicts the
biblical story of creation, with death entering into the world first
after sin.

CARTOONS

The second greatest evil after
the sexuality and immodesty in children's shows is the constant
bullying and fun making of the weaker characters, and the violence in
both magazines, shows, films (and video games of course). Even the
secular press acknowledges that children's shows oftentimes are more
violent than other programs broadcasted for the general public! This
article below was taken from the Daily Mail and clearly proves this
point further.

“High
levels of violence in cartoons such as Scooby-Doo can make children
more aggressive, researchers claimed yesterday. They found that
animated shows aimed at youngsters often have more brutality than
programs broadcast for general audiences. And they said children
copied and identified with fantasy characters just as much as they
would with screen actors.

The study also found that
youngsters tended to mimic the negative behaviour they saw on TV such
as rumour-spreading, gossiping and eye-rolling. The U.S.
psychologists quizzed 95 girls aged ten and 11 about their favourite
TV shows, rating them for violent content and verbal and indirect
aggression. The shows included Lost, Buffy the Vampire Slayer,
American Idol, Scooby-Doo and Pokemon.

The
researchers found that output aimed at children as young as seven,
which included a number of cartoons, had the highest levels of
violence. They recorded 26 acts of aggression an hour compared with
just five in shows aimed at general audiences and nine in programmes
deemed unsuitable for under-14s. 'Results
indicated that there are higher levels of physical aggression in
children's programmes than in programmes for general audiences,'
the study said.”

The
following story was taken from a Chinese newspaper further proving
the point on how bullying, rebellion, disobedience, etc. is taught to
children through anime/cartoons/magazines.

Educators Worry About
Influence of Cartoons on Children

“Like
many other eight-year-olds, Liu Yimin's favorite heroes aren't great
scientists, or the national soccer team, or popular Chinese icons
like Lei Feng. (According to the worldly norm, one should idolize
weak human beings.)

His heroes are two Japanese
animated characters who defy their parents and teachers. Local
educators are worried and say that some of characters may be a bad
influence on youngsters.

"I think the content of
these shows is too mature for children," said Zhang Jinlian,
director of the Shanghai Children and Juvenile Psychological Guidance
Center. She said many students like to imitate the actions of these
cartoon kids, causing trouble in the classroom and at home. Zhang
would like to see steps taken to prevent children from reading books
and watching videos and VCDs about Xin San, but the cartoon kid is
just too popular to be avoided.

But today's kids don't want to
be instructed, they want innovative cartoons with characters who are
rebellious, Xu pointed out. Sales of books and VCDs of the two
cartoon series, plus viewer ship levels of the "Chibi Maruko
Chan" on Shanghai TV prove that rebellion is very popular with
local youngsters.

Unfortunately, children are
picking up those rebellious attitudes. Zhang said that many children
now bully their parents into buying them a new toy - a trick that
they picked up from Chibi Maruko Chan (undoubtedly they also bully
their weaker classmates as they have been taught). Even worse, she
said, some young boys lustfully gaze at their girl classmates.”

A
while ago, when the Catholic Church had a great impact on morality in
the Christian society, people looked up to and adored our divine
savior Jesus Christ, the blessed Virgin Mary, and the fame and
virtues of the Saints. Every Catholic child had a patron Saint of his
choosing to look up to and follow. What better examples in virtues
and good manners can there possibly be?

Satan
has in fact exchanged an adoration of God for man through the media.
This is why children nowadays look up to actors, artists, heroes or
characters mainly found in media. What child today would not want to
be as Superman, Spiderman or any other Superhero, who is depicted in
the media as invincible, adored, and beloved by all? Why are both
grownups and children nowadays so prideful and violent, unloving,
disobedient, lustful and arrogant, etc., if not because we through
media have been conditioned to act and behave in this way? With the
devil as an example through his debauched actors and animated
characters, it will always end badly.

With
holy examples, such as of our Savior himself and of the Saints,
virtues such as humility, patience, charity and love flourish and is
found. Therefore, learn to educate your children in the knowledge of
Christ and of His Saints, give them Catholic books about Saints so
that they can learn about virtues, and good Catholic films about the
Saints. You can find a lot of different Catholic books from Saints at
this site below, and more is added frequently!

You
cannot allow your children to watch anything unless you are 100%
certain that the film, show or audio, they are viewing, have nothing
in it that are against God’s law. Unless you keep this
standard, you will have your children tormenting you for all eternity
in hell since you allowed evil influences and sins to effect them at
an early age. You are responsible for their spiritual well being as
long as they live under your roof. This, of course, should make every
parent very nervous. For if you had a real live tiger in your
bedroom, you would never allow your child in there since the animal
could kill them and eat them. The TV, Internet or media is far more dangerous
than a tiger ever will be since it kills the immortal soul of your
precious child! Yet, most people allow their children to watch TV
without any supervision. If you say that you cannot supervise their
viewing of media, then throw out the TV and other media appliances
that they use to access sinful things or prepare yourself to suffer
the eternal consequences in the fire of Hell for your actions!

Now
a further examination will be made on the different kinds of programs
that are presented throughout the media.

Now,
you might ask: “So are you forbidding all media as wrong and
sinful to watch?” The answer is no. Not all media is bad, but
almost everything on television is however. You might have to watch
less at what the box has to offer for you. There are for example
numerous great religious films and series which is totally acceptable
and good for the Spirit to watch (even though, in many films,
especially newer ones, there will be immodest scenes or scenes of
impurity. A Christian must not look on films or series which they
know have bad scenes that will tempt them). Religious films are the
best since they direct your mind toward spiritual things and God,
which cannot be said of worldly films. When I am talking about
Religious films, I am not referring to these worldly films disguised
as religious films, which really has nothing at all to do about
spirituality but really about the world, for example, stories about a
man falling in love with a woman or a woman falling in love with a
man, or other worldly motives, with jokes, much vain talk, etc. This
is complete and utter nonsense and serves nothing at all for the
edifying of soul, mind or body, and should be totally avoided as the
trash it really is!

Most
documentaries for example, (regarding on what documentaries you
watch) can be watched even if most of them aren't good or edifying to
the soul. Documentaries on prophecies, end times or doomsday, is
acceptable since it draws your mind toward the end, death and coming
judgment. Documentaries on animals, nature, space, history, etc. are in
themselves not evil or sinful or contrary to God, and can be watched.
However, they will many times be the beginning of great evil and sin.
Whatever you watch or listen to, it is always a danger if you get too
attached to it and allow too much time to be spent on it every day.
As a rule, if you cannot stand a single day without visual and
audible media, (television and music) this is a clear sign that you
are addicted to media. So if you must watch something and if you
can't abstain, you need to learn to watch programs that are not
against God or Christian morals. But, the danger still of watching
these are the same as with other bad shows since they will direct
your mind towards worldly things, but at least it draws your mind
towards God's creation or history which one may contemplate and draw
fruit from, which cannot be said of fables and fairy-tale, pro-evolution
anti-God films.

People
however, that always prioritize worldly activities before spiritual
ones will most assuredly lose their souls. A person must be able to
make a resolution to leave worldly activities for hours per day and
offer up those hours for God in solitude by praying and reading his
words. Many people have time, but they spend it badly and chose to
watch media or doing other fruitless works of damnation.

You
would be a Saint if you had the same desire and longing for God as
you have for worldly things. You can only receive a desire, love and
longing for God as you have for worldly things when He is whom you
desire and strive for above all other things. This will not happen as
long as you are over-attached to worldly things. You must also be
able - or at least have a desire to be able to - to come to the point
were you want to give up watching media completely. For if a person
doesn't even desire the better part, how then can he grow? God is the
better and best part!

All films and series that leads
your mind toward fantasies and fables such as Lord of the rings,
Heroes, Smallville, Avatar, etc, even if we were to say, for the sake
of argument, that they have nothing in them against God (which is not
true), should still be avoided, since they direct our minds from God,
from the natural world we live in, toward fantasies and all kinds of
thoughts referring thereto. This is the main cause for it being so
dangerous and the reason why so many persons watching these shows
have unwholesome unrealistic desires or depressions. For a person
that spends much time on finding God, will evidently dream and long
much for God and come close to Him. In contrast, a person that spends
much time on the world, is far from God and dead before God!

Now
you might ask: “May I then watch other worldly films or series
if the story is fixed on realistic things or the creation of God?”
The answer to this question is that it depends on what movie or show
you want to watch. I would say that one can watch movies and series
about the end of the world, the afterlife and the paranormal, etc,
since it leads your mind toward the judgment and the death of the
body to come which is a good thing. From this can be understood that
it depends on what fruit can be drawn out from it to begin with.
“Every
tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down
and cast into the fire.” (Luke 3:9)

You
will without a doubt bring forth bad fruit if you spend much time on
bad things. So if the film or show is about worldly and vain things,
then one should not watch such shows since the fruit thereof is empty
and vain. This point can be further proved from sacred scripture.

“Beware
lest any man cheat you by philosophy, and vain deceit; according to
the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not
according to Christ...” (Colossians 2:8)

This
pretty much rules out all the films, shows and series (anime series
and video games as well) that has ever been made in the entire world.

News
in itself isn’t evil or contrary to God or morals, but most
newspapers today have totally unacceptable pictures which make them
extremely unsuitable to read. To read newspapers which you know will
contain many unchaste, immodest and sexual pictures and useless
stories about sex, etc., is complete idiocy and will lead to sins of
the flesh if you cannot guard yourself. For example, I have gone to numerous
mainstream news websites just to read news, and it has become so bad
that I never go to them unless I first have all the images blocked.
(Adblock extension for Firefox or Google Chrome webbrowser is
also a good tool to get rid of all ads, immoral or otherwise.) We
advice you to never watch news on television or the like since it
is so filled with sins that it is almost impossible to watch without
seeing things that will injure your virtue like immodesty, make-up,
blasphemy, gloating, lust, adultery etc... continuing in infinity.
However, to watch news daily is hardly necessary and St. Alphonsus
clearly rebukes people for this in his most excellent work, The True
Spouse of Christ.

“St.
Dorotheus says: "Beware of too much speaking, for it banishes
from the soul holy thoughts and recollection with God."Speaking
of religious that cannot abstain from inquiring after worldly news,
St. Joseph Calasanctius said: "The curious religious shows that
he has forgotten himself." It is certain that he who speaks too
much with men converses but little with God, for the Lord says: I
will lead her into the wilderness, and I will speak to her heart.If,
then, the soul wishes that God speak to its heart, it must seek after
solitude; but this solitude will never be found by religious who do
not love silence." If," said the Venerable Margaret of the
Cross, "we remain silent, we shall find solitude." And how
will the Lord ever condescend to speak to the religious, who, by
seeking after the conversation of creatures, shows that the
conversation of God is not sufficient to make her happy?
Hence,
for a nun that delights in receiving visits and letters, in reading
the newspapers, and in speaking frequently of the things of the
world, it is impossible to be a good religious. Every time that she
unnecessarily holds intercourse with seculars, she will suffer a
diminution of fervor.”

You
might ask: “Could not this way of viewing media then be applied
to all shows?” The answer is no! Most shows are evil in
themselves whether or not you fix your eyes on bad scenes. And the
objects of discussion on those shows are often the cause of it being
sinful; for it is vain, foolish or against God. News on the other
hand is not unless you deliberately choose to delve in bad news or
shows, such as celebrity news or celebrity shows such as 'Idol' and
the like which is mortally sinful and complete and utter foolishness
to watch and take delight in. For it is idol making of weak human beings.
It’s truly sickening to behold how people worship worldly fame along
with sinful and weak human beings!

We
will not make much mention of films or shows like Prison break,
Heroes, 24, Matrix, Terminator, 300, X-men, Transformers, Spiderman
and the like, etc. For there should be no need of explanation about
these shows. They are all against God, they are all based on breaking
God's commandments and doing evil or violence, or enjoying others
doing evil or violence. Whether or not the world or you claim it’s
about good vs evil doesn't matter, for these shows in themselves are
totally fruitless, often extremely violent, condoning crimes and
sins, and often compels the viewer to agree or disagree with the
actions of the characters, which more then often are more bad actions
then 'good' if it is even possible to call them good. Every time you
agree with or fail to disagree with something which obviously is
against God, you committed sin! When you watch films or shows for
pleasure which have the characters doing crimes and sins, you do in
fact agree with them by your continual deed of watching and by your
failure in renouncing it in the very same way a politician that is
speaking against abortion would be a pro-abortionist when continually
voting for allowing abortion. Thus, you are in fact in favor of evil
by not denouncing and renouncing it completely!

Ask
yourself, is it fitting for a child of God to take delight in such
nonsense? Would God approve of these evil shows? Watching shows like
this will only serve to stir you up towards wanting to watch more
worldly and ungodly shows. Shows with much violence, superpowers,
magic and fighting are the most dangerous since they excite our flesh
and body in a false sensation or thrill exceedingly much. A person
who does not cut this off from himself will lose his soul!

There
are so much blasphemy, adultery, lust, pride, vanity, immodest
clothing, idol-making of mortal human beings, greed, gluttony and
sinful deeds and speech among countless other sins in today’s
media, that it is a real abomination and sickening to behold! It is
in fact a real and eternal spiritual slaughter of billions of people
– which is far more horrifying and lamentable than any physical
slaughter will ever be – which we observe happening in real
time without anyone lifting an eyebrow! However, their laughter will
turn into an eternal sorrow after the very moment their death will
come! Then every word of mockery and blasphemy will have its special
torment in hell for all eternity to come. Learn to meditate on Hell
daily and you will not hesitate one second to quit watching evil and
ungodly media!

HOW
TO CONTROL YOUR EYES

The
learning and controlling of your sight will be most necessary for
salvation. You cannot fool God! Every time you look willfully with
lust in your heart at an unchaste, enticing or unsuitable object, you
have most assuredly committed a mortal sin! Therefore, whenever you
come across something sinful (or even something licit but which is
very beautiful) with your eyes, you must make a habit to look down or
away – for the sin of lust will not be far away – making
the sign of the cross and saying a Hail Mary, which is highly
recommended and helps against impurities. Countless of Saints have
rebuked people for the great error of failing to controlling their
eyes. St. Ignatius Loyola for example rebuked a brother for looking
at his face more than a brief moment. St. Bridget made a specific
confession for every single face she saw during each day! This is
true wisdom, for the world tells you to always watch the person you
are with in the face. This will many times lead to sins and impure
thoughts.

MODESTY OF THE EYES IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR SALVATION

Question: Is it a sin to
willfully look at persons or things that one are sexually attracted to and
that arouse one’s sexual desire? Is it permitted to seek directly the
proximate occasion for sinning for a spiritual or temporal good of our own or
of a neighbor?

Answer: Yes, it is a sin to willfully look at, and to
continue to look at, things that arouse one’s sexual desire. In addition, the
Church also condemns even putting oneself in “the proximate occasion for
sinning for a spiritual or temporal good of our own or of a neighbor” (Pope
Innocent XI) which shows us that one is not even allowed to watch or listen to
things like dangerous and worldly media or remain in situations where one can
become tempted to commit a sin. This, of course, proves that the Church abhors
every act of the will where we unnecessarily allow ourselves to be tempted, or
to be in a place or situation where we know that there is a great chance that
something will tempt us, or be against God.

Custody of the eyes is always necessary for obtaining
salvation, and so it is clearly sinful to fix one’s eyes on a person or an
object that one knows will arouse sinful thoughts and desires. “Brother Roger,
a Franciscan of singular purity, being once asked why he was so reserved in his
intercourse with women, replied, that when men avoid the occasions of sin,
God preserves them; but when they expose themselves to danger, they
are justly abandoned by the Lord, and easily fall into some grievous
transgressions.” (St. Alphonsus Liguori, The True Spouse of Jesus Christ,
Mortification of the Eyes, p. 221)

Our enemy, the Devil, first and foremost comes to us and enter
our hearts through our eyes. No other sense is more potent in tempting man.
Learning to control what you look at is absolutely crucial in order to be
saved, for every time you look willfully with lust in your heart at an
unchaste, enticing or unsuitable object, or any object at all for that matter,
even if modest, you have most assuredly committed a mortal sin! Therefore,
whenever you come across something sinful with your eyes (or even something
licit but which is very beautiful) you must make a habit to look down or away –
for the sin of lust will not be far away – making the sign of the cross and
saying 1 or 3 Hail Mary’s, which is highly recommended since it helps against
impurities.

Countless of Saints have rebuked people for the great error of
failing to control their eyes. St. Ignatius of Loyola for example rebuked a
brother for looking at his face for more than a brief moment. St. Bridget made
a specific confession for every single face she saw during each day! This is
true wisdom, but the world and current custom and habit tells you to always
watch the person you are with, or looking at, in the face, even if they are
on the Television! This is a bad custom or habit to say the least. This
will many times lead to sins and impure thoughts and temptations of the Devil.
Modesty and purity requires us to not stare people in the face, and especially
the eyes, even at all, or only for a very short moment, even when we talk to
them directly. In former times, this was common knowledge.

St. Alphonsus Liguori writes the following
concerning this: “But I do not see how looks at young persons of a different
sex can be excused from the guilt of a venial fault, or even from mortal sin,
when there is proximate danger of criminal consent. "It is not
lawful," says [Pope] St. Gregory, "to behold what it is not lawful to
covet." The evil thought which proceeds from looks, though it should be
rejected, never fails to leave a stain upon the soul.” (The True Spouse
of Jesus Christ, Mortification of the Eyes, p. 221)

This virtue may indeed be hard to put into
practice for many in the beginning, but overtime and with practice, it will
become easier.

The above quote from St. Alphonsus also shows
why most of the things broadcasted on the media are totally unsuitable to watch
or read. News in itself isn’t evil or contrary to God or morals but most
newspapers or news-channels today have totally unacceptable pictures or
immodestly dressed or very beautiful tv-hosts, which make them extremely
unsuitable to read or watch, or at least to fix one’s eye on. Remember,
"It is not lawful," says St. Gregory, "to behold what it is not
lawful to covet." To read newspapers which you know will contain many
unchaste, immodest and sexual pictures and useless stories about sex, etc., is
complete idiocy and will lead to sins of the flesh if you cannot guard
yourself. Therefore, if you care for your salvation, you must not read any newspaper
or magazine or watch any show or film that contains immodesty of people
tempting you.

St. Alphonsus, On Avoiding the Occasion of
Sin: “Now, no one can receive absolution unless he purpose firmly to
avoid the occasion of sin; because to expose himself to such occasions,
though sometimes he should not fall into sin, is for him a grievous sin.
And when the occasion is voluntary and is actually existing at the present
time, the penitent cannot be absolved until he has actually removed the
occasion of sin. For penitents find it very difficult to remove the
occasion; and if they do not take it away before they receive absolution they
will scarcely remove it after they have been absolved.” (The complete
ascetical works of St. Alphonsus, vol. 15, p. 543)

For example, in the past I have gone to numerous
mainstream news websites just to read news, and it has become so bad that I
never go to them unless I first have all the images blocked (on my
web-browser). In fact, I have even made a habit of surfing the web without any
images or JavaScript enabled at all, or at least without images on depending on
the browser and the work I do. Almost all sites works perfectly fine without
images and JavaScript enabled anyway. And on the few sites that don’t work
without JavaScript or images enabled, one can always allow an exception for
that site.

It is highly important for one’s salvation to
block and not allow images to be shown when surfing the internet because
without a doubt, almost all sites without exception will have some form or
another of immodestly dressed women displayed; and, in the cases they are not
immodest, they are still very beautiful or sensual looking. It’s unavoidable,
even if the article may seem sound. In truth, I have seen and learned that from
personal experience too many times.

Adblock or Adblock Plus extension for Firefox or
Google Chrome web-browsers are also good tools to get rid of all
internet ads, immoral or otherwise. And so if people don’t use a
web-browser that can use extensions (or if they don’t have an Adblock
installed) they must change internet browser and install an Adblock by virtue
of obedience to God’s law that demands modesty and the avoidance of occasions
of falling into sin when it is possible to do so.

That one must avoid the proximate occasion of
sin in order to be Saved and receive Forgiveness of one’s sins
from God is a certain fact of the Natural and Divine law that has always been
taught by the Church and Her Saints. For instance, Blessed Pope Innocent XI
during his papacy, condemned three propositions that denied this truth:

Pope Innocent XI, Various Errors on Moral Matters
#61, March 4, 1679: “He can sometimes be absolved, who remains in a
proximate occasion of sinning, which he can and does not wish to omit,
but rather directly and professedly seeks or enters into.” – Condemned
statement by Pope Innocent XI.

Pope Innocent XI, Various Errors on Moral Matters
#62, March 4, 1679: “The proximate occasion for sinning is not to be shunned
when some useful and honorable cause for not shunning it occurs.” – Condemned
statement by Pope Innocent XI.

Pope Innocent XI, Various Errors on Moral Matters
#63, March 4, 1679: “It is permitted to seek directly the proximate occasion
for sinning for a spiritual or temporal good of our own or of a neighbor.”
– Condemned statement by Pope Innocent XI.

Here we see that the Church confirms that the
opinion that “It is permitted to seek directly the proximate occasion for
sinning for a spiritual or temporal good of our own or of a neighbor” is
directly condemned. And this condemnation is about those who “seek
directly the proximate occasion for sinning” for a good cause, rather than
for a selfish cause. But most people in this world do not even watch or listen
to evil and ungodly media for a good cause but rather for the sake of pleasure
or for other unnecessary reasons, and it is certainly not necessary
“for a spiritual or temporal good of our own or of a neighbor.” This shows us
that the Church and the Natural Law absolutely abhors and condemns the opinion
that one can watch or listen to media that can tempt a person to sin. Indeed,
not only the occasions of sin, like evil, worldly and ungodly media, but also
the “the proximate occasion for sinning for a spiritual or temporal good
of our own or of a neighbor” must be totally rejected and shunned if one wants
to attain salvation.

People who reject this advice and continue to
put themselves in a proximate or near occasion of sin will undoubtedly lose
their souls, since God will allow the devil to fool them in some way since they
rejected the Word of God, and chose to put themselves in the way of temptation.
Many there are, indeed, who presumptuously claim that they won’t get tempted by
watching or listening to worldly media, or that they will be able to control
it, but here we see in the condemnations of Blessed Pope Innocent XI that one
may not even put oneself in “the proximate occasion for sinning for a
spiritual or temporal good of our own or of a neighbor”. God will undoubtedly
leave a person who is presumptuous and prideful, and the Church and Her Saints
have always condemned such individuals that trusts in their own strength.

As a matter of fact, one can even understand
from the light of natural reason that one is not allowed to put oneself in the
occasion of sin, so those who do this act will have no excuse whatsoever on the
day of judgment. In addition, a person who watches bad, worldly or ungodly
media, tempts his fellow man to watch these evil things also, and thus, by his
bad example, puts both himself and others in the way of damnation by his
selfishness and presumption. So in addition to damning himself if he
obstinately continues in such a course of life, such a person also actually
tries to damn others by his bad example, trying to drag others with him into
the eternal darkness and fire of hell. This is a kind of evil that is
breathtaking to behold! It is thus a fact “that when men avoid the occasions
of sin, God preserves them; but when they expose themselves to danger, they
are justly abandoned by the Lord, and easily fall into some grievous
transgressions.” (St. Alphonsus Liguori, The True Spouse of Jesus Christ,
Mortification of the Eyes, p. 221)

The pitiful and unreasonable addiction to media
by so many “Catholics” or “Christians” today is something new, and almost no
one before the 20th century was so miserably addicted to it as the weak and bad
willed population of our own times! The amount of pitiful and pathetic excuses
that we have had to hear from bad willed people who try to excuse their act of
putting themselves in the proximate or near occasion of sin is, simply said,
almost endless. Even though they understand that they are not allowed to
endanger their souls, they just couldn’t care since they are hooked on the
media, just like a drug addict, who need his daily “fix” to endure the day. For
about a hundred years ago, almost no media existed as compared to today, and
people thrived and the crime rates was as nothing when compared to today. So
the unreasonable addiction to media cannot be excused, for man does not need
media at all to survive, and putting oneself in the near or “the proximate occasion
for sinning for a spiritual or temporal good of our own or of a neighbor”
is directly condemned by the Church.

If the priests as well as the laypeople that
lived in a more virtuous time when the Catholic Church’s Law was followed by
people in Europe would have seen any of the things we human today see through
either media or even walking outside and seeing billboards or lasciviously
clothed men or women walking in the street, they would have been outraged and
would have fled from every such thing, for their conscience had not been
perverted through the media so that their sense of modesty was totally crushed
as is the case with us modern humans. God’s standard of modesty never changes,
and the Church’s teaching that “the proximate occasion for sinning for a
spiritual or temporal good of our own or of a neighbor” must always be avoided
is not allowed to be flouted in the 21st century however much modern man thinks
that God allows their novelties and abominations.

We advice all people to use the
internet in this safe way as described above, and always have images blocked.
And we want to warn people not be deceived by the Devil or their evil
attachment to images on this point. Again, remember what St. Alphonsus
says: “when men avoid the occasions of sin, God preserves them; but when they
expose themselves to danger, they are justly abandoned by the Lord, and easily
fall into some grievous transgressions.”

Attachment to images made me delay
using the internet in this safe way for way too long. If there are
images you want to view, then you can always open another web-browser
(with an ad-block installed!) where images are enabled, or enable
them quickly on the web-browser you’re currently on. (Or you
can just right click on the image and click with the scroll mouse
button on “view image” in Firefox so that the image can
be seen in a new tab; in Chrome just right click and press “Open
image in new tab” and it will show the image.) Most of the time
there are no real reasons or necessity to see any images anyway. Only
curiosity makes us want to see them. Of course, when images are
necessary or needed, then it is lawful to surf with them on for as
long as it is necessary, provided it is not a danger to one’s
soul and the site is not bad. But how often do we need to see images
at all times? Never. Therefore, if we have no reason or necessity to
have them on, they must be off.

The best and easiest
user experience in using the internet in this safe way is using a
web-browser with add-ons or extensions installed that manually blocks
and unblocks all images easily with just one click of a button, which
means that you will not have to enter settings all the time to do
this. By using extensions to block images, you can just click on the
icon visible on the top-right side of the web-browser, thus manually
blocking and unblocking all images, or just press on the image itself
as explained in the Google
Chrome section.

We
generally recommend no one to use any other webbrowser than Google
Chrome, since it is so much better when it comes to the
extensions available, as is explained in the above article. The image
blocker extension for Google Chrome is just superior to all other
webbrowsers, which means that more people will continue using an
image blocker when surfing the internet and not give up.

This adblocker is the perhaps the best
of them all but more advanced and comes with the additional plus that
it has no “acceptable” advertising built into the
program, which means there is no need to disable anything as with the
other adblockers. It also helps you keep your Ad-Blocker active and
the webpage working, when you visit a website and it asks you to
disable.

In order to
understand how to use and configure uBlock Origin in order to remove
as much ads as possible, you need to read this
and the following section.

If you want to use other adblockers and
other webbrowsers and configure them correctly, you need to consult
these links:

This image blocker
is the most convenient and user friendly image blocker that I know
of. With one click, you can display the image/video screen or hide it again.
It is only available for Chrome and Chromium based browsers, such as Opera.
If you want to learn how to use this image blocker and everything it can do
you will need to read the more detailed
instruction on how to use it.

But in order for the above image
blocker to work more effectively, it will be necessary to also
install Fast Image Blocker for Google Chrome and have it activated at
the same time with Wizmage Image Blocker. The reason for this is that
the Wizmage extension does not always block all images on certain
sites nor does the programs always block all images immediately. You
also have the additional benefit that the Wizmage’s image
feature (of easily showing the images) still works in most cases with
Fast Image Blocker activated at the same time.

Here is the direct download link to
Fast Image Blocker for Google Chrome:

After installing Fast Image Blocker,
click on the camera icon and remove every single site already put
into the “exceptions list”. Press the X icon in order to
remove a website from the list. There are a lot of websites put into
this list as exceptions as you will see after having installed the
program (not a smart move, since it makes people think the program
doesn’t work!).

Only add exceptions (the + icon with
the address already inserted) that are absolutely necessary or
needed, since it won’t block images on that site if you have it
added.

Also, when clicking the camera icon, if
the camera icon in the menu is colored, this means the image blocker
is activated; if it is grey, it means it is disabled for all
websites.

For best flash and html5 blockers
for Google Chrome web-browser, visit these links:

(A flash blocker
helps you have more control of flash content by preventing it from
loading in webpages until you allow it, such as videos and other
flash related content, which means that you cannot see videos or
things that are flash related playing or showing their content
automatically without you first having given your authorization.)

This flash blocker is the only one we
currently recommend for Chrome since it blocks more flash content
than any other flash blocker we know of.

But in order for the this flash blocker
to work properly, you need also to download and install an extension
that blocks html5 content from automatically playing on youtube and
on other websites that you are browsing, such as this one:

Since html5 is becoming the new
standard online, is not enough with just a flash blocker anymore; and
most youtube videos are also automatically played with the new html5
format when available.

In order to learn
all the information you need to know about these flash and html5
blockers and how to use and configure them in the best possible way
for your own convenience, please see the Flashcontrol
section, and the Disable
HTML5 Autoplay section for Google Chrome.

If you want to use other flash blockers
and other webbrowsers and configure them correctly, you need to
consult these links:

If you don’t use an add-on (which
you should be doing) the best browser to use is the Google Chrome
web-browser since it allows you the option to disable both images and
JavaScript on all specific internet sites (Firefox doesn’t
allow this option with Java or Images at all unless one first
download extensions); and it is best since it allows you (after you
have disabled images or Java in settings) an option to enable the
images or java on the site you’re currently on—without
having to enter settings all the time to do this. The bad thing with
this option, however, is that it perpetually enables and allows all
images to be shown on that domain and not just temporarily. So do not
allow images to be shown in this way on all sites or bad sites but
only on trustworthy sites you go to often. It is idiocy to
perpetually allow images on various websites just because you are
curious of the pictures in one article. (You can also
remove sites manually from “allow images” exceptions in
settings afterwards if you made a mistake. It is also possible to
right click on a blocked image an press “Open image in new tab”
and then it will show the image. But it is preferable to just install
an image block and flash/html5 block extension instead since it is so
much more easier and convenient.)

Also, in Firefox,
the images displayed by Google is not blocked by all image blockers.
That is why we recommend users to use Google
Chrome instead of Firefox. So when you search for something on
this browser, you will not risk seeing something bad being displayed
by Google against your will. Please see the best
image blockers for Firefox for all the information on how to
safely block all images in this web-browser.

Always surf without images on.
Don’t be a fool by rejecting this advice of the Popes and
Saints of the Church concerning the unlawfulness of putting
oneself in the proximate occasion for sinning and of looking
on things that are unlawful to covet or behold and that are a danger
to one’s salvation. If you want to see images on some site,
then allow the images only temporarily and afterwards block it again
so that you do not continue surfing the internet with images on.

And yes, it is a sin to refuse to
follow this advice since it’s virtually impossible to escape bad and
immodest images and commercials of men or women tempting you every day when
surfing the internet (and the same of course applies to watching most media
too, which is why we recommend people never to watch movable images and that
they only listen to the audio). Only a condemned person not fearing God
or sin at all would refuse to follow this good advice that helps him avoid
falling into sexual temptations and sins everyday.

St. Alphonus, On Avoiding the Occasions
of Sin: “We find in this day’s gospel that after his resurrection Jesus
Christ entered, though the doors were closed, into the house in which the
apostles were assembled, and stood in the midst of them. St. Thomas says that
the mystical meaning of this miracle is that the Lord does not enter into our
souls unless we keep the door of the senses shut. (On John, 20, 4) If, then, we
wish Jesus Christ to dwell within us, we must keep the doors of our senses
closed against dangerous occasions, otherwise the devil will make us his
slaves. I will show today the great danger of perdition to which they who do
not avoid the occasions of sin expose themselves.

“1. We read in the
Scriptures that Christ and Lazarus arose from the dead. Christ rose to die no
more: "Christ rising from the dead, dies no more." (Rom. 6. 9); but
Lazarus arose and died again. The Abbot Guerric remarks that Christ arose free
and unbound; "but Lazarus came forth bound feet and hands." (John
11.44) Miserable the man, adds this author, who rises from sin bound by any
dangerous occasion: he will die again by losing the divine grace. He, then, who
wishes to save his soul, must not only abandon sin, but also the occasions of
sin: that is, he must renounce such an intimacy, such a house; he must renounce
those wicked companions, and all similar occasions that incite him to sin.

“2. In consequence of original
sin, we all have an inclination to do what is forbidden. Hence St. Paul
complained that he experienced in himself a law opposed to reason: "But I
see another law in my members, fighting against the law of my mind, and
captivating me in the law of sin." (Rom. 7.23) Now, when a dangerous
occasion is present, it violently excites our corrupt desires, so that it is
then very difficult to resist them: because God withholds efficacious helps
from those who voluntarily expose themselves to the occasion of sin.
"He that loves danger shall perish in it." (Ecclus. 3.27)
"When," says St. Thomas, in his comment on this passage, "we
expose ourselves to danger, God abandons us in it." St. Bernardine of
Siena teaches that the counsel of avoiding the occasions of sin is the best of
all counsel, and as it were the foundation of religion.

“3. St. Peter says that
"the devil goes about seeking whom he may devour." (1 Pet. 5.8) He is
constantly going about our souls, endeavoring to enter and take possession of
them. Hence, he seeks to place before us the occasions of sin, by which he
enters the soul. "Explorat," says St. Cyprian, "an sit pars
cujus aditu penetret." When the soul yields to the suggestions of the
devil, and exposes itself to the occasions of sin, he easily enters and devours
it. The ruin of our first parents arose from their not flying from the
occasions of sin. God had prohibited them not only to eat, but even to touch
the forbidden apple. In answer to the serpent tempting her, Eve said: "God
has commanded us that we should not eat, and that we should not touch it."
(Gen. 3.3) But "she saw, took, and ate" the forbidden fruit: she
first looked at it, she then took it into her hands, and afterwards ate it.
This is what ordinarily happens to all who expose themselves to the occasions
of sin. Hence, being once compelled by exorcisms to tell the sermon which
displeased him most, the devil confessed that it was the sermon on avoiding the
occasions of sin. As long as we expose ourselves to the occasions of sin,
the devil laughs at all our good purposes and promises made to God. The
greatest care of the enemy is to induce us not to avoid evil occasions; for
these occasions, like a veil placed before the eyes, prevent us from seeing
either the lights received from God, or the eternal truths, or the resolutions
we have made: in a word, they make us forget all, and as it were force us into
sin.

“4. "Know it to be a
communication with death; for you are going in the midst of snares."
(Ecclus. 9.20) Everyone born in this world enters into the midst of snares.
Hence, the Wise Man advises those who wish to be secure to guard themselves
against the snares of the world, and to withdraw from them. "He that is
aware of the snares shall be secure." (Prov. 11.15) But if, instead of withdrawing
from them, a Christian approaches them, how can he avoid being caught by them?
Hence, after having with so much loss learned the danger of exposing himself to
the danger of sin, David said that, to continue faithful to God, he kept at a
distance from every occasion which could lead him to relapse. "I have
restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep your words." (Ps. 118.101)
He does not say from every sin, but from every evil way which conducts to sin.
The devil is careful to find pretexts to make us believe that certain occasions
to which we expose ourselves are not voluntary, but necessary. When the
occasion in which we are placed is really necessary, the Lord always helps us
to avoid sin; but we sometimes imagine certain necessities which are not
sufficient to excuse us. "A treasure is never safe," says St.
Cyprian, "as long as a robber is harbored within; nor is a lamb secure
while it dwells in the same den with a wolf." (Lib. de Sing. Cler.) The
saint speaks against those who do not wish to remove the occasions of sin, and
still say: "I am not afraid that I shall fall." As no one can be
secure of his treasure if he keeps a thief in his house, and as a lamb cannot
be sure of its life if it remain in the den of a wolf, so likewise no one can
be secure of the treasure of divine grace if he is resolved to continue in the
occasion of sin. St. James teaches that every man has within himself a powerful
enemy, that is, his own evil inclinations, which tempt him to sin. "Every
man is tempted by his own concupiscence, drawn away, and allured." (James
1.14) If, then, we do not fly from the external occasions, how can we resist
temptation and avoid sin? Let us, therefore, place before our eyes the
general remedy which Jesus has prescribed for conquering temptations and saving
our souls. "If your right eye scandalize you, pluck it out and cast it
from you." (Matt. 5.29) If you find that your right eye is to you a cause
of damnation, you must pull it out and cast it far from you; that is, when
there is danger of losing your soul, you must fly from all evil occasions. St.
Francis of Assisi used to say, as I have stated in another sermon, that the
devil does not seek, in the beginning, to bind timorous souls with the chain of
mortal sin; because they would be alarmed at the thought of committing mortal
sin, and would fly from it with horror: he endeavors to bind them by a
single hair, which does not excite much fear; because by this means he will
succeed more easily in strengthening their bonds, till he makes them his
slaves. Hence he who wishes to be free from the danger of being the slave of
hell must break all the hairs by which the enemy attempts to bind him; that is,
he must avoid all occasions of sin, such as certain manners of speech,
places, little presents, and words of affection. With regard to those who have
had a habit of impurity, it will not be sufficient to avoid proximate (near)
occasions; if they do not fly from remote occasions, they will very easily
relapse into their former sins.

“5. Impurity, says St.
Augustine, is a vice which makes war on all, and which few conquer. "The
fight is common, but the victory rare." How many miserable souls have
entered the contest with this vice, and have been defeated! But to induce you
to expose yourselves to occasions of this sin, the devil will tell you not to
be afraid of being overcome by the temptation. "I do not wish," says
St. Jerome, "to fight with the hope of victory, lest I should sometimes
lose the victory." I will not expose myself to the combat with the hope of
conquering; because, by voluntarily engaging in the fight, I shall lose my soul
and my God. To escape defeat in this struggle, a great grace of God is
necessary; and to render ourselves worthy of this grace, we must, on our part,
avoid the occasions of sin. To practice the virtue of chastity, it is
necessary to recommend ourselves continually to God: we have not strength to
preserve it; that strength must be the gift of God. "And as I knew,"
says the Wise Man, "that I could not otherwise be continent, except God
gave it, … I went to the Lord, and besought him." (Wis. 8.21) But if we
expose ourselves to the occasions of sin, we ourselves shall provide our
rebellious flesh with arms to make war against the soul. "Neither,"
says the Apostle, "yield your members as instruments of sin unto
iniquity." (Rom. 6.13) In explaining this passage, St. Cyril of Alexandria
says: "You stimulate the flesh; you arm it, and make it powerful against
the spirit." St. Philip Neri used to say that in the war against the vice
of impurity, the victory is gained by cowards -- that is, by those who fly from
the occasions of this sin. But the man who exposes himself to it, arms his
flesh, and renders it so powerful, that it will be morally impossible for him
to resist its attacks.

“6. "Cry out,"
says the Lord to Isaiah, "all flesh is grass." (Isa. 40.6) Now, says
St. John Chrysostom, if all flesh is grass, it is as foolish for a man who
exposes himself to the occasion of sin to hope to preserve the virtue of
purity, as to expect that hay, into which a torch has been thrown, will not
catch fire. "Put a torch into hay, and then dare to deny that the hay
will burn." No, says St. Cyprian; it is impossible to stand in the midst
of flames, and not to burn. "Impossibile est flammis circumdari et non
ardere." (De Sing. Cler.) "Can a man," says the Holy Spirit,
"hide fire in his bosom, and his garments not burn? or can he walk upon
hot coals, and his feet not be burnt?" (Prov. 6.27, 28) Not to be burnt in
such circumstances would be a miracle. St. Bernard teaches that to preserve
chastity, and, at the same time, to expose oneself to the proximate occasion of
sin, "is a greater miracle than to raise a dead man to life."

“7. In explaining the
fifth Psalm, St. Augustine says that "he who is unwilling to fly from
danger, wishes to perish in it." Hence, in another place, he exhorts
those who wish to conquer, and not to perish, to avoid dangerous occasions.
"In the occasion of falling into sin, take flight, if you desire to gain
the victory." (Serm. 250 de temp.) Some foolishly trust in their own
strength, and do not see that their strength is like that of flax placed in the
fire. "And your strength shall be as the ashes of tow." (Isa. 1.31)
Others, trusting in the change which has taken place in their life, in their
confessions, and in the promises they have made to God, say: Through the grace
of the Lord, I have now no bad motive in seeking the company of such a person;
her presence is not even an occasion of temptations: Listen, all you who speak
in this manner. In Mauritania there are bears that go in quest of the apes, to
feed upon them: as soon as a bear appears, the apes run up the trees, and thus
save themselves. But what does the bear do? He stretches himself on the ground
as if dead, and waits till the apes descend from the trees. The moment he sees
that they have descended, he springs up, seizes on them, and devours them. It
is thus the devil acts: he makes the temptation appear to be dead; but when a
soul descends, and exposes itself to the occasion of sin, he stirs up temptation,
and devours it. Oh! how many miserable souls, devoted to spiritual things, to
mental prayer, to frequent communion, and to a life of holiness have, by
exposing themselves to the occasion of sin, become the slaves of the devil! We
find in ecclesiastical history that a holy woman, who employed herself in the
pious office of burying the martyrs, once found among them one who was not as
yet dead. She brought him into her own house, and procured a physician and
medicine for him, till he recovered. But, what happened? These two saints (as
they might be called -- one of them on the point of being a martyr, the other
devoting her time to works of mercy with so much risk of being persecuted by
the tyrants) first fell into sin and lost the grace of God, and, becoming
weaker by sin, afterwards denied the faith. St. Macarius relates a similar fact
regarding an old man who suffered to be half-burned in defense of the faith;
but, being brought back into prison he, unfortunately for himself, formed an
intimacy with a devout woman who served the martyrs, and fell into sin.

“8. The Holy Spirit tells
us that we must fly from sin as from a serpent. "Flee from sin as from the
face of a serpent." (Ecclus. 21.2) Hence, as we not only avoid the bite of
a serpent, but are careful neither to touch nor approach it, so we must fly
not only from sin, but also from the occasion of sin -- that is, from the
house, the conversation, the person that would lead us to sin. St. Isidore
says that he who wishes to remain near a serpent, will not remain long unhurt.
"Juxta serpentem positus non erit sin illaesus." (Solit., Bk. 2)
Hence, if any person is likely to prove an occasion of your ruin, the
admonition of the Wise Man is, "Remove your way far from her, and come not
near the doors of her house." (Prov. 5.8) He not only tells you not to
enter the house which has been to you a road to hell ("Her house is the
way to hell." Prov. 7.27); but he also cautions you not to approach it,
and even to keep at a distance from it. "Remove your way far from
her." But, you will say, if I abandon that house, my temporal affairs
shall suffer. It is better that you should suffer a temporal loss, than that
you should lose your soul and your God. You must be persuaded that, in
whatever regards chastity, there cannot be too great caution. If we wish to
save our souls from sin and hell, we must always fear and tremble. "With
fear and trembling work out your salvation." (Phil. 2.12) He who is not
fearful, but exposes himself to occasions of sin, shall scarcely be saved.
Hence, in our prayers we ought to say every day, and several times in the day,
that petition of the Our Father, "and lead us not into temptation."
Lord, do not permit me to be attacked by those temptations which would deprive
me of your grace. We cannot merit the grace of perseverance; but, according to St.
Augustine, God grants it to every one that asks it, because he has promised to
hear all who pray to him. Hence, the holy doctor says that the Lord, "by his
promises has made himself a debtor" (cf. Romans 4:25).” (Hell’s Widest
Gate: Impurity, by St. Alphonsus Liguori, Sermons (nn. 2-4) taken from Ascetical
Works, Volume XVI: Sermons for all Sundays in the Year (1882) pp. 152-173)

We also advice you to never watch news on
television or the like since it is so filled with sins that it’s almost
impossible to watch without seeing things that will injure your virtue like
immodesty, make-up, sensuality, blasphemy, gloating, useless and unnecessary
stories, lust, adultery, fornication... continuing in infinity. However, to
watch news daily is hardly necessary and St. Alphonsus clearly rebukes people
for this in his most excellent work, The True Spouse of Christ.

“St. Dorotheus says: "Beware of too much speaking, for
it banishes from the soul holy thoughts and recollection with God." Speaking
of religious that cannot abstain from inquiring after worldly news, St. Joseph
Calasanctius said: "The curious religious shows that he has forgotten
himself." It is certain that he who speaks too much with men converses but
little with God, for the Lord says: "I will lead her into the
wilderness, and I will speak to her heart." (Osee, ii. 14.) If, then,
the soul wishes that God speak to its heart, it must seek after solitude; but
this solitude will never be found by religious who do not love silence.
"If," said the Venerable Margaret of the Cross, "we remain
silent, we shall find solitude." And how will the Lord ever condescend to
speak to the religious, who, by seeking after the conversation of creatures,
shows that the conversation of God is not sufficient to make her happy? Hence,
for a nun that delights in receiving visits and letters, in reading the
newspapers, and in speaking frequently of the things of the world, it is impossible
to be a good religious. Every time that she unnecessarily holds intercourse
with seculars, she will suffer a diminution of fervor.” (The complete
ascetical works of St. Alphonsus, Volume X, pp. 468-469)

We ourselves do not watch any videos anymore
except exclusively when for the sake of making videos. We also try to avoid
reading any secular news or other worldly websites. Now we only listen to
audio, having all the movable images blocked. On YouTube, when we watch
something on YouTube, we do not watch the videos but only listen to them by
downloading them as audio (or video) and listened to them only in audio, or at
least, by avoiding watching at the screen if we were watching it on youtube by
scrolling down so that the player is not seen, or on other video sites. Anyone
who cares about virtue and about their eternal salvation and for those who fear
not to offend God by viewing or seeing bad scenes or images, will of course do
the same thing, since it’s almost impossible to watch anything today that does
not contain immodesty or that will harm one’s virtue. Even purely Christian
films, whether on tv or youtube, have many bad and unacceptable scenes, statues
or images in them. What then could be said about more secular media,
documentaries, or series?

Question: In
what way can I perform acts that might be an occasion of sinning? I like to
watch different TV-programs and films, but now and then, there comes immodest
and ungodly things. Is this sinful to watch?

Answer: It is almost
impossible to not see bad and sensual pictures on youtube or in normal films,
even so called Christian films, and this means that one must abstain from
watching the film screen, and that one can only listen to the audio of the film
or video. The examples of lascivious and bad things even in the most
“religious” films or videos are very many as we have experienced ourselves, sad
to say. Only in the case when one knows there is nothing objectionable in the
film is it allowed to watch it, but since this is practically impossible to
know about, one must abstain from watching the film.

Thus, those who rebel against the Church’s
teaching that one may not even put oneself in “the proximate occasion for
sinning for a spiritual or temporal good of our own or of a neighbor” will
undoubtedly lose their souls because of their carelessness in following Our
Lord’s words. Many may think that this teaching of the Church is too harsh, but
no one ever needed to watch a film screen to be saved, and in the first 5500
years of the world, all who were saved, were saved without watching any films.
When we now have the direct knowledge that almost all media is suffused by
lascivious pictures or acts, it is utterly unlawful to continue to put oneself
in this occasion of sin.

If there were 100 doors, and only behind 1 door,
there was a man eating tiger, would it be allowed for you to advice others to
go into these doors just because of pleasure or curiosity or other unnecessary
motives. Of course not! This is a perfect example of those who watch films.
They do not know exactly what the film or video contains, and in so doing, they
are risking their souls and placing themselves in the occasion of sin. Indeed,
we see that the Church goes further than that by teaching that one may not even
put oneself in “the proximate occasion for sinning for a spiritual or
temporal good of our own or of a neighbor”. (Blessed Pope Innocent XI) The fact
that society and the media in general have lost all sense of modesty and
decency does not excuse a person who views videos or films which he does not
know with certainty that there is nothing immodest in the film. In the
beginning of the film industry, the films was much more modest, but even in the
beginning stages, there were many lascivious acts and deeds which made it even
unlawful at that time to watch films in general, since one risks one’s soul by
chancing to watch a film or video. Since one now has the knowledge that the
world’s media is filled with lasciviousness, it is utterly unlawful to continue
to watch different films or videos unless one knows with certainty that the
film or video does not contain lascivious pictures or acts.

Lamentably, even so called Catholics nowadays
have no clue about the Church’s teaching about abstaining from all occasions of
sin, and the blindness concerning purity and modesty is almost total even among
those who call themselves traditional Catholic, which we have sadly experienced
over and over again, until we understood that we would be forced to not watch
any motion picture at all, even by so called traditionals. Sad to say, many
times it seems that the more “traditional” an organization or group claims to
be, the less they have any clue about what true modesty and purity is. Indeed,
even an organization like “Most Holy Family Monastery” which is viewed by most
so called Catholics as an ultra-traditional and ultra-strict organization, has
no clue about even normal decency, and posted a picture of a totally nude
statue of a man which showed the genitals or private sexual parts. In the video
called “Fr. Z’s...”, which no one is allowed to watch on the screen as
it is indecent, (but it can be lawfully listened to without seeing the video,
motion picture or screen) MHFM was critiquing another man who had posted the
picture of a statue of a muscular and totally naked man that was very life
like, and thus could tempt many women. MHFM were of course right in criticizing
him for tempting women by this naked picture, but then, in a fit of diabolical
stupidity, MHFM themselves reposted this indecent image in the video for the
whole world to see.

A so called traditional writer of the website traditioninaction.org who defended himself in publicly posting nude, half nude or totally immodestly
posing or dressed women, such as in bikini’s, on his website for the purpose of
“exposing” the Vatican II corruption, also dared to compare himself when
publicly posting mortally sinful inducing images for the whole world to see
with “When a lawyer in a courtroom describes details of the sexual
humiliation suffered by a victim of a pedophile priest, he is not doing so to
promote immorality or induce the members of the jury to sin.” But this is a
false argument since what is occurring behind closed doors (and that is
not for the public) and for a legal purpose has no comparison with his
own action ofpublicly posting immodest and mortally sinful
inducing images for not only the whole world to see, but also for
minors, youths, the married, the weak and even the old alike!

This devil also said recently in defending
himself when being accused for posting pictures that could only be described as
pornographic: “If we would have completely covered with black stripes the
provocative parts [of the nude model] of those photos, many would say that they
do not prove anything; perhaps you would be among those. Since we let our
readers know who that woman the Pope embraced actually is – distorting as much
as possible those photos without destroying the evidence – you jumped against
us claiming that you are scandalized and accusing us of promoting sin.”

The article the reader was exposed to said this:
“We reproduce some of the [nude] model’s poses below to brief our readers and
allow them to evaluate the inconceivable moral abyss into which Francis is
dragging present day Rome [by having embraced this woman]”. It goes
without saying, but no one may enter this website with images on or watch their
evil image section “exposing” corruption since it is a mortal sin to behold
such things and an occasion of sin; the same applies to novusordowatch.org
and similar evil websites posting lascivious and nude images, but
novusordowatch.org is worse since they have a function that pops up their other
articles and related images to that article at the bottom of their website,
which means that any image may be displayed there according to their perverted
standard, which means that even if you read a religious article with images on
that you deemed safe, something immodest may be forced in your face against
your will when scrolling down. This is why we stress that one must avoid having
pictures on when surfing nowadays, for even the most so called traditional
websites, are totally clueless about what modesty and occasion of sin is.

Many might think that these “excuses” by this
“traditional” writer excuses their film watching, but the Church, as we have
seen, teaches that one may not even put oneself in “the
proximate occasion for sinning for a spiritual or temporal good of our own
or of a neighbor” and those who watch most of the videos, does not do so for
any necessity but only for fun or pleasure. Thus, it is obvious from the light
of natural reason that one may not risk one’s soul, even in the case when one
intends to do it for a spiritual good, according to the teaching of the Church.

No one ever needed to see such pictures to be
able to understand truths of the Christian Faith, or in order to be saved. This
is just a sinful excuse. Indeed, in a courtroom, when a criminal is being
judged, for example, for possessing or selling drugs, the jury or judge does
not try the drugs to see whether it is really drugs or not, but a single lab
confirms this through a test, and the reason why not all in the courtroom does
try it, is in part because all understand that drugs are harmful. This is a
perfect example to sensual pictures. Since these pictures act like a drug on
the man or woman who look at them: one must do all in one’s power to restrict
access to these and similar things so that the weak may not fall and enter
hell. So those who watch films or videos which they do not know with certainty
has nothing lascivious in it, are committing the exact same act as a person who
would say to another person: “Look, this pill may kill my soul, and place
myself in the occasion of sinning, but I will have a taste and see whether it
is evil or not!” Who but a madman would act in this way, and yet, this is
exactly what most people do right now, when they tempt themselves or others by
placing themselves in the occasion of sin.

Until our death, we are obligated under pain of
mortal sin to avoid all occasions of sin. St. Alphonsus tells us in On
Avoiding the Occasion of Sin: “Now, no one can receive absolution unless
he purpose firmly to avoid the occasion of sin; because to expose
himself to such occasions, though sometimes he should not fall into sin, is
for him a grievous sin.” Indeed, “The catechist must explain that
those who do not abstain from voluntary proximate occasions of
grievous sin are guilty of a mortal sin, even though they have the
intention of not committing the bad act, to the danger of which they expose
themselves”. St Augustine’s Confessions reiterates
this point: “I resist seductions of the eyes, lest my feet with which I advance
on Your way be entangled; and I raise my invisible eyes to You, that You would
be pleased to pluck my feet out of the net.”

When sensual pictures exist that shows us
something we need to explain or expose to others, they must be described in
text rather than in a picture, as the picture works in the same way as drugs on
a drug addict.There can be no doubt
that countless billions of souls have been damned because of lascivious acts in
films as well as sensual pictures, and yet so called Christians are totally
clueless to this truth that one can even understand from the light of natural
reason. Thus, the only logical solution to our evil times, is to totally cut
off watching all motion picture media.

This is truly the great challenge of our evil
times: to be able to resist to watch media even though it is so delightful and
fun to do so. Most people do not even try to cut off watching media, but are
totally hooked on it like a drug addict, and this is undoubtedly a great
reason, if not the greatest reason, why they will be damned. Since people
nowadays do not resist their evil inclination to place themselves in the
occasion of sinning, it is easy to see why so few nowadays possess any virtues,
and why almost all are non-Catholic heretics. Simply said, one must choose
whether one values one’s soul above the pleasure of watching a screen for a
little and brief moment in this short life. A person who is God-fearing and who
fears hell and often meditates on death and the eternal punishment of the
damned, will of course not hesitate one moment to cut of all occasions of
sinning. Those, however, who presumptuously scorns to listen to these facts of
both the Natural Law as well as the teaching of the Church and Her Saints,
refusing to meditate on hell and the punishment of going against God’s Eternal
Law, will experience eternal hell at the moment of death, but then it will be
too late to amend.

Catholics must understand that few are saved.
Our Lord Jesus Christ revealed that the road to Heaven is straight and narrow
and few find it, while the road to Hell is wide and taken by most (Mt. 7:13).

Matthew 7:13 “Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide
is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there
are who go in thereat. How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth
to life, and few there are that find it!”

Luke 13:24 “Strive to enter by the narrow gate; for
many, I say to you, shall seek to enter, and shall not be able.”

Scripture also teaches that almost the entire world lies in
darkness, so much so that Satan is even called the “prince” (John 12:31) and
“god” (2 Cor. 4:3) of this world. “We know that we are of God, and the whole
world is seated in wickedness.” (1 John 5:19)

Nowadays, however, the fear of Hell has vanished completely,
and that is why no one cares anything about avoiding the occasion of sin. But
the time will come when they shall lift up their voices in lamentation and
weeping and curse themselves for refusing to avoid the occasion of sin, but
then, it is sadly too late for them. “And the smoke of their torments shall
ascend up for ever and ever: neither have they rest day nor night...”
(Apocalypse 14:11)

St. Leonard of Port Maurice (A.D. 1676-1751), when speaking on
the fewness of the saved, shows us how the Church and Her Fathers and Saints is
unanimous in teaching this biblical doctrine: “After consulting all the
theologians and making a diligent study of the matter, he [Suarez] wrote, ‘The
most common sentiment which is held is that, among Christians [Catholics],
there are more damned souls than predestined souls.’ Add the authority
of the Greek and Latin Fathers to that of the theologians, and you will find
that almost all of them say the same thing. This is the sentiment of Saint
Theodore, Saint Basil, Saint Ephrem, Saint John Chrysostom. What is more,
according to Baronius it was a common opinion among the Greek Fathers that this
truth was expressly revealed to Saint Simeon Stylites and that after this
revelation, it was to secure his salvation that he decided to live standing on
top of a pillar for forty years, exposed to the weather, a model of penance and
holiness for everyone. Now let us consult the Latin Fathers. You will hear
Saint Gregory saying clearly, ‘Many attain to faith, but few to the heavenly
kingdom.’ Saint Anselm declares, ‘There are few who are saved.’
Saint Augustine states even more clearly, ‘Therefore, few are saved in
comparison to those who are damned.’ The most terrifying, however, is Saint
Jerome. At the end of his life, in the presence of his disciples, he spoke
these dreadful words: ‘Out of one hundred thousand people whose lives have
always been bad, you will find barely one who is worthy of indulgence.’ (On
The Little Number of Those Who Are Saved, by St. Leonard of Port
Maurice)

What would not the billions of suffering souls in Hell do, who
fell into the most horrifying torments imaginable for the sake of carnal
impurities and temptations of the flesh, if they had a second chance to escape
their eternal torment? In truth, they would gladly walk on the surface of the
Sun, which is millions of degrees hot for a billion times billion years if God
enabled them to do so. To choose a single second of sinful pleasure (which is
how short this life is compared to eternity) for an infinite time of
excruciating torments and tortures in hell is unfathomable, and yet,
literally the whole world consents to this devilish trap!

Take heed that you, the reader, do not reject this
admonishment, for it might be the last time you will hear such words before
death suddenly strikes you and the Devil takes you and devours you for all
eternity to come! “… Take all states, both sexes, every condition: husbands,
wives, widows, young women, young men, soldiers, merchants, craftsmen, rich and
poor, noble and plebian. What are we to say about all these people who are
living so badly? The following narrative from Saint Vincent Ferrer will show
you what you may think about it. He relates that an archdeacon in Lyons gave up
his charge and retreated into a desert place to do penance, and that he died
the same day and hour as Saint Bernard. After his death, he appeared to his
bishop and said to him, ‘Know, Monsignor, that at the very hour I passed
away, thirty-three thousand people also died. Out of this number, Bernard
and myself went up to Heaven without delay, three went to purgatory,
and all the others fell into Hell.’ Our chronicles relate an even
more dreadful happening. One of our brothers, well-known for his doctrine and
holiness, was preaching in Germany. He represented the ugliness of the sin of
impurity so forceful that a woman fell dead of sorrow in front of everyone.
Then, coming back to life, she said, ‘When I was presented before the
Tribunal of God, sixty thousand people arrived at the same time from all
parts of the world; out of that number, three were saved by going to
Purgatory, and all the rest were damned.’ O abyss of the judgments
of God! Out of thirty thousand, only five were saved! And out of sixty
thousand, only three went to Heaven! You sinners who are listening to me, in
what category will you be numbered?... What do you say?... What do you
think?...” (On The Little Number of Those Who Are Saved, by St.
Leonard of Port Maurice)

Fr. Martin Von Cochem’s masterpiece book “The Four Last
Things” (that deals specifically with the topics of Hell, the fear of God,
death and judgment), explains the frightful truth of Our Lord’s words in the
Gospel of how few people there actually are on this earth that even find the
path to Heaven even once while living on this earth, and much less
persevere on it until their death:

“Let me ask thee, O reader, what proportion thinkest thou
of all who live upon this earth will be saved? Half? or a third part? or perhaps
a quarter? Alas, I fear, and not without good reason, that the number will not
be nearly so large. Jesus Christ, who is eternal Truth, His holy apostles, and
the Fathers of the Church, all tell us that so it will be.

“What does Christ say about the number
of the elect? His words are these: "Many are called, but few are
chosen." He repeats these words when He speaks of the guest who had not on
a wedding garment: "Bind his hands and his feet, and cast him into the
exterior darkness. For many are called, but few chosen." Were nothing more
to be found to this intent in the whole of the Scriptures, this passage could
not fail to alarm us. But there are many other similar ones, of which I will
quote one or two. In the Gospel of St. Matthew we read that Our Lord said:
"Enter ye in at the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way
that leadeth unto destruction, and many there are that go in thereat. How
narrow is the gate and strait is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there
are that find it." (Matt. 7:13) Are not these words calculated to inspire
us with anxiety and apprehension? May not we be amongst those who go in at the
wide gate, who walk on the broad road that ends in everlasting perdition? In
order that thou mayst better appreciate the meaning of Our Lord’s words, and
perceive more clearly how few are the elect, observe that Christ did not say
that those were few in number who walked in the path to heaven, but that there
were but few who found that narrow way. "How strait is the gate that
leadeth unto life, and few there are that find it." It is as if the Savior
intended to say: The path leading to heaven is so narrow and so rough, it is so
overgrown, so dark and difficult to discern, that there are many who, their
whole life long, never find it. And those who do find it are exposed constantly
to the danger of deviating from it, of mistaking their way and unwittingly
wandering away from it, because it is so irregular and overgrown. This St.
Jerome says, in his commentary on the passage in question. Again, there are
some who when they are on the right road, hasten to leave it, because it is so
steep and toilsome. There are also many who are enticed to leave the narrow way
by the wiles and deceits of the devil, and thus, almost imperceptibly to
themselves, are led downwards to hell.” (Fr. Martin Von Cochem, The Four
Last Things, pp. 212-213)

If people could only open their fleshly eyes and start seeing
with their spiritual eyes how short this life and the lust of the flesh is,
everyone would immediately start avoiding the occasions of sin, but no one
today wants to contemplate or meditate on the end of all flesh, which is death
and decay in the grave. They behave as mentally ill people who willfully
forgets that they must die and be judged by our Lord Jesus Christ. The thought
of death is indeed powerful to conquer every sin and sinful occasion, but while
people know that they must die, they willfully choose to forget this fact,
since the very thought of death and change is repugnant to their fleshly
beings, and directly associated with the thought of being judged by God for
their sins. And so, they choose to forget that they must die and be judged by
God in order to not have to feel any distress, fear or remorse from their evil
conscience every time they sin.

But the time will come when they – standing in
shame and ignominy in front of the whole world at the day of judgment – will be
forced against their will to remember and confess every single sinful and
lustful act that they have ever committed from the moment they reached the age
of reason to their very last breath, and then, after their just condemnation,
their eternal punishment will begin. Their soul shall be separated from their
sinful and fleshly rotting body for the sake of their vile and shameful
affections and lusts and be cast into the eternal fire “in the pool burning
with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Apocalypse 21:8)

And those who claim they are not troubled by the sensual
pictures in videos or films still cannot excuse their film watching since they
not only tempt themselves, but also others by their film watching, and no one
can be so prideful to think that he cannot fall into sin at any moment. There
is no way to know one has ever achieved such a state of purity that looking at
an attractive woman would not cause concupiscence to flare up and overtake him.
In addition, according to one story found in the Life of the Holy Fathers,
it is explained how those people who, being already owned by the devil in other
ways, may not even be tempted much by him with sexual temptations or
imaginations, since, being already his own, he leaves them alone. Also,
according to the same text, “those who are freed from [impure] thoughts are
those who have moved into [sinful] deeds”. But if this is true with only
thoughts, how much more true when actually viewing impure images? Hence if
these people were more troubled with sexual temptations, one should think that
they would be more on their guard and be more careful about themselves and of
falling and exposing themselves (and others) to this sin. But since the devil
don’t want evil people to be on their guard and that they should continue
giving others a bad example, he sometimes leaves off tempting them.

Life of the Holy Fathers, Book 5, On Sexual
Temptation: “There was a certain brother who was most zealous in ordering
his life. And when he was grievously troubled by the demon of sex he went
to a certain old man and told him his thoughts. When this “expert” heard, he
was indignant and called the brother a miserable wretch unworthy of the monk’s
habit to entertain such thoughts. The brother, hearing this, despaired of
himself, left his cell and began to go back to the world. But by the mercy
of God, abba Apollo met him, and seeing that he was upset and unhappy he asked
him, "Brother, why so sad?" In great confusion of mind he was at
first unwilling to answer, but in the face of much questioning by the old man
as to what the matter was he at last confessed, saying, "I am bothered
by thoughts of sex, and I confessed to that old man and according to him there
is no hope of salvation for me, so in despair I’m going back to the world."
When father Apollo heard this he talked and reasoned with him like a wise
physician, saying, "Don’t be too dumbfounded, or despairing of
yourself. Even at my age and state of life I can be greatly troubled by
thoughts such as these. Don’t collapse in this time of testing; it can
be cured not so much by human advice as by the mercy of God. But just for today
grant me one request: go back to your cell." This the brother did. Abba
Apollo however hastened to the cell of that old man who had sown despair and
standing outside prayed the Lord, "Lord, who allows us to be tempted
for our good, [temptations often leads us to avoid putting ourselves in
the proximate danger of falling] turn the battle which this brother has
suffered against this old man, that in his old age he may learn from experience
what he didn’t learn long since, that you must have compassion on those who
are troubled by this sort of temptation."

“Having completed his prayer he saw
an Ethiopian standing by the cell casting arrows against this old man, who,
severely wounded, began to stagger about here and there as if drunk with wine.
Unable to bear it any longer he rushed out of the cell and began to return to
the world by the same road as the young brother had taken. But abba Apollo,
knowing what was happening, met him, and running up to him asked, "Where
are you going? And what is the reason for the agitated state you are in?"
But he, sensing that the holy man knew all about what was happening, could say
nothing for very shame. "Go back to your cell," said abba Apollo,
"and acknowledge your own weakness, recognise it as part of
yourself. For either you have been overlooked by the devil up till now,
or else despised as being so lacking in virtue as to be unworthy of striving
against him. Did I say ‘strife’? You weren’t even able to put up with
his attacks for a single day! But all this happened to you because when that
young man was attacked by our common adversary, instead of giving him helpful
advice against the devil as you ought, you drove him into despair, forgetful
of that wise precept by which we are bidden to save those on a pathway towards
death and neglect not to redeem the condemned (Proverbs 14). Nor have you heeded
the sayings of our Saviour, ‘A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoking
flax he shall not quench’ (Matthew 12.20). No one can withstand the attacks of
the enemy, or quench and contain the fire of rebellious nature, unless the
grace of God comes to the aid of our natural infirmity, which in all our prayer
we beg God in his mercy to heal in us, and that he may turn away from us the
attacks launched against us, for it is of him that we are cast down and again
restored to the way of salvation, it is he who strikes and then heals us with
his hands, he humbles and exalts, he kills and makes alive, he leads us down to
the depths and raises us up again" (1 Kings 2).

“Having said this he prayed, and at once
the old man was freed from that battle. And abba Apollo urged him to seek from
the Lord a tongue of discretion, so that he might know when the time was right
for giving a sermon.

“V.v.5. Syrus
Alexandrinus, when asked about sexual thoughts replied thus, "If
you didn’t have thoughts you would be a hopeless case, since those who are
freed from thoughts are those who have moved into deeds, that is, those who
have sinned in the body are the ones who have not fought against thoughts of
sin, or turned them down. The one who sins in the body has gone beyond being
troubled by thoughts." ”

St. Alphonsus Liguori speaks further of avoiding
even the remote occasion of sin such as looking in the face, saluting with
affection etc.

St. Alphonsus Liguori, The complete ascetical works of
St. Alphonsus: “4. The Flight from Dangerous Occasions.

“This fourth point should often be
recommended in the mission; for an innumerable multitude of souls are lost by
not wishing to avoid the occasions of sin. Oh, how many souls are now in hell
who cry out, weeping: Unhappy me, if I had kept from this occasion I should
never have damned my soul for all eternity!

“The Holy Ghost reminds us that he who
loves the danger will fall into sin, will perish; ‘He that loveth danger
shall perish in it.’ [Eccl. 3:26] St. Thomas explains to us the reason;
commenting on this text, he says that when we voluntarily expose ourselves to
danger, or when we neglect to keep from it, God abandons us in it. And St.
Bernardine of Sienna assures us that among the counsels of Jesus Christ the
counsel of fleeing from the occasion of sin is the most important, is, as it
were, the foundation of religion.

“The preacher should then take care to
remind the people that when they are tempted, especially if the occasion
presents itself, they should avoid reasoning with the temptation. What the
devil desires is precisely that we should parley with it; for thereby he will
easily conquer us. We must in this case flee from the occasion at once, and
invoke the names of Jesus and Mary without listening to the enemy who tempts
us.

“St. Peter assures us that the devil
prowls around every soul to devour it. [1 Pet. 5:8] On this text St. Cyprian
says that the devil goes about without ceasing, and examines by what door he
may enter. When a dangerous occasion presents itself, the devil at once says to
himself: Here is the door by which I can enter this soul. And immediately he
begins to tempt the soul. If we then neglect to flee from the occasion, we
shall certainly yield to it, especially when the object of the temptation is a
carnal sin. Hence the devil is not so much afraid of our good resolutions and
our promises not to offend God as to see us flee from the occasion; for, if we
do not flee from it, it becomes a bandage which is put over our eyes, and makes
us forget all the eternal truths, all the lights received, and all the promises
made to God. And if any one finds himself sunken in impure sins, he should
avoid as much as possible the occasions, not only the proximate, but also the
remote occasions, for he is less capable of resisting. We should not, then,
labor under the illusion by pretending that it is a necessary occasion which we
need not avoid; for Jesus Christ has said: ‘If thy right eye scandalize thee,
pluck it out, and cast it from thee.’ [Matt. 5:29] Even if it were your right
eye, to escape damnation it would be necessary to pluck it out and cast it from
you, that is, by fleeing from this occasion, however remote it may be; for on
account of your weakness it is proximate for you.

“St. Francis of Assisi, speaking of
persons who have the fear of God, gives an excellent advice concerning remote
occasions: he says that for persons who fear to lose God, the devil, in the
occasions, does not at first excite them to grave faults; he begins by
attaching them with a hair, which afterwards, in time, may through his
suggestions become a chain, and he thus succeeds in dragging them into mortal
sin. Hence in our relations with persons of the other sex, we should take care
to break off from the beginning every kind of attachment, however feeble it may
be, by avoiding even the remote occasions, such as looking them in the face,
saluting them with affection, receiving notes or presents from them, and much
more, saying tender words to them.

“We should, above all, be convinced that
we who are by nature sensual have not the strength to preserve the virtue of
chastity; God only in his goodness can grant us this strength. Now it is true
that the Lord hears him who prays to him; but if any one exposes himself to the
occasion, and knowing it, does not remove from it, his prayers are not heard,
according to the words of the Holy Ghost already quoted: ‘He that loveth danger
shall perish in it.’ Alas! how many are there who, for not having fled from the
occasions of this kind, although they led holy lives, ended by falling into sin
and becoming hardened in it? With fear and trembling, says the Apostle, work
out your salvation: He that does not tremble, and dares to expose himself to dangerous
occasions, above all to occasions of carnal sins, will be saved with
difficulty.

“Since these counsels about the flight of
dangerous occasions is so important, it is not sufficient, if the preacher
speaks about it once to his people, or even devotes an entire sermon to it, as
some do, and do well; but as these occasions are numerous, and men are careless
about avoiding them, the world becoming thereby so corrupt, we must come back
to this point and insist upon it several times during the mission. On this
depends the salvation of those persons who, although they come to the mission,
yet are not present at the sermon on the flight from dangerous occasions.

“I add another remark,
which it would be well to make all understand, and especially confessors. When
a penitent has never avoided the occasion in which he has been accustomed to
sin, it will be necessary for him to make a general confession, because one
should judge that all the confessions that he has made in this state are null.
One should also presume the same thing in the case of those who, although they
have always confessed their sins, yet never gave any sign of amendment, and
fell back a little while after into sin; only a general confession can induce these
people to amend their lives.”

From the very beginning, the movies often presented sensual or
illicit acts, although the incidence of such occurrences have increased much
more in our times. It is very sad, but our generation are born totally blind to
God’s standard of modesty, and this blindness is also the reason why we do not avoid
the occasion of sin. Although we can understand the truth from natural reason
alone that one must avoid all occasions of sin if we examine the inner recesses
of our soul, as we have shown here, so little is done nowadays to educate the
young, which results in that their own bad will smothers every inspiration that
their soul and conscience gives to them that their way of life is displeasing
to Our Lord.

If Jesus today would have come to visit most of
the people who deludes themselves into thinking that they are traditional
Catholics or Christians, he would be outraged how little that person strove to
avoid the occasions of sinning in media; and just because the media have
evolved to such a state of degradation that almost all is evil does not
minimize the guilt of all people who refuse to avoid things which they know can
have things that will tempt their eyes and sensuality. “Everyone
knows what damage is done to the soul by bad motion pictures. They are
occasions of sin; they seduce young people along the ways of evil by glorifying
the passions; they show life under a false light; they cloud ideals; they
destroy pure love, respect for marriage, affection for the family. They are
capable also of creating prejudices among individuals and misunderstandings
among nations, among social classes, among entire races.” (Pope
Pius XI, Vigilanti Cura, June 29, 1936)

“Concerning this matter We make a father’s appeal
to Our dear young, trusting that -- since We speak of entertainment in which
their innocence can be exposed to danger -- they will be outstanding for their
Christian restraint and prudence. They have a grave obligation to check
and control that natural and unrestrained eagerness to see and hear everything,
and they must keep their minds free from immodest and earthly pleasures and
direct them to higher things.” (Pius XII, Miranda Prorsus, June 29,
1936)

If it would be something else evil, such as visiting
a brothel for some good reason, such as eating there, we would be attuned to
the fact that this may be a great occasion of sin, and so rightly conclude that
it would be a sin to go there, but now when we sit comfortably at home, we
falsely think that God somehow requires less vigilance in keeping away from all
occasions of sin. Regrettably, the comfort and ease of media coming directly to
us at home, have undoubtedly helped bring untold of evils to so called
Christians and their children, with the result of billions being damned, and
the statistics of sins that have skyrocketed after Vatican II is a great
testament to the fact that media have been the greatest cause in why people are
so perverted and evil nowadays.

“It
is unfortunate that, in the present state of affairs, this influence
[of motion pictures] is frequently exerted for evil. So much so that when one
thinks of the havoc wrought in the souls of youth and of childhood, of the loss
of innocence so often suffered in the motion picture theatres, there comes to
mind the terrible condemnation pronounced by Our Lord upon the corrupters of
little ones: "whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones who
believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone be hanged about his neck
and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea" [Matthew 18:5-6].” (Pope
Pius XI, Vigilanti Cura) Indeed, knowing the danger of today’s media
makes it seem idiotic to keep a TV, since it will undoubtedly be a great source
of temptation to watch all kinds of TV-programs that can tempt a person or put
them in the occasion of sin.

That so much naked religious images have been
made, spread and depicted even in churches! during the last 700 years or so is
undoubtedly a sign of the gradual falling away from God and the corruption of
morals within and without the Church by the people, and indicates why God
ultimately abandoned the Church to what it is has become today. Our duty as
Catholics, however, is to continue to reject the world and its vanities,
however much the world may fall away from God and the Faith: “There must be no weariness in combating whatever contributes to the
lessening of the people’s sense of decency and of honour. This is an obligation
which binds not only the Bishops but also the faithful and all decent men who
are solicitous for the decorum and moral health of the family, of the nation,
and of human society in general.” (Pope Pius XI, Vigilanti Cura, June 29, 1936)

Also consider that it is very easy to sin in
one’s thought. In fact, one consent to an evil thought is enough to damn a
person to burn in Hell for all eternity! and all the bad scenes one sees in
all the films, television, movies, series etc. tempts one to commit exactly
this sin against God.

St. Alphonsus: “Listen to this example:
A boy used often to go to confession; and every one took him to be a saint. One
night he had a hemorrhage, and he was found dead. His parents went at once to
his confessor, and crying begged him to recommend him to God; and he said to
them: "Rejoice; your son, I know, was a little angel; God wished to take
him from this world, and he must now be in heaven; should he, however, be still
in purgatory, I will go to say Mass for him." He put on his vestments to
go to the altar; but before leaving the sacristy, he saw himself in the
presence of a frightful spectre, whom he asked in the name of God who he was.
The phantom answered that he was the soul of him that had just died. Oh! is it
you? exclaimed the priest; if you are in need of prayers, I am just going to
say Mass for you. Alas! Mass! I am damned, I am in hell! And why?
"Hear," said the soul: "I had never yet committed a mortal
sin; but last night a bad thought came to my mind; I gave consent to it,
and God made me die at once, and condemned me to hell as I have deserved to be.
Do not say Mass for me; it would only increase my sufferings." Having
spoken thus, the phantom disappeared.” (The complete ascetical works of St.
Alphonsus, vol. 15, p. 167)

“O eternity, eternity! The saints tremble at
the mere thought of eternity; and ye sinners, who are in disgrace with God, you
do not fear? You do not tremble? It is of faith that he who dies in the state
of sin goes to burn in the fire of hell for all eternity!” (Ibid, p. 108)

Scripture teaches that few are saved (Mt. 7:13)
and that almost the entire world lies in darkness, so much so that Satan is
even called the “prince” (John 12:31) and “god” (2 Cor. 4:3) of this world. “We
know that we are of God, and the whole world is seated in wickedness.” (1 John
5:19)

Why are most people damned? Most people are
damned because they don’t care enough about God nor fear Him enough to avoid
all sin and the occasions of falling into obvious sin, nor do they
love Him more than they love their own perverse will or self-love—which is
the direct reason for their indifferent lifestyle; neither do they care
enough about God so as to avoid even what they obviously know will lead them
into possible sin. The great St. Ambrose said concerning this: “True
repentance [and thus love of God] is to cease to sin [all sin, however small].”

That of course means that one must do all in
one’s power to avoid not only mortal sin, but also venial sin. It also means
to in fact never even have a will to commit even the slightest sin that one
knows to be a sin culpably or with full consent against the all good God — and
now we may deduce already why most people in fact are damned.

Hence that most people are damned and always
have been. So the only reason it would be hard for someone to be forgiven his
sins and be saved is if he don’t love God enough, fear God enough, nor trust
God enough with his whole heart—trust and love, such as believing in Him and
that He will forgive you if you do what you must—and that He hears all your
prayers and grants all your prayers that are good for you, such as all prayers
for the grace of attaining forgiveness and salvation. Therefore, it is only
hard to be saved for the bad — and not for the good souls.

Generally, one of course cannot know whether a
film, documentary or show that one watches or desires to watch will have any
bad images or scenes in them—before having already watched it. (There
are some sites that offers warnings of immodesty, bad language, nudity etc.,
but their warnings probably are not enough, nor will they, in all likelihood,
include a warning against the so-called modern day women’s fashion in which
women show of their womanly figure by pants or revealing and tight clothing
since this is how every one dress today (which in itself would be bad enough to
forbid watching these shows entirely), and of course, the modern day “Catholic”
or “Christian” standard of modesty is not enough and is even evil in many
cases.) Therefore, it is playing with fire to watch movable images and risk
one’s soul; and as we have seen, God will ultimately abandon a person that
willfully put himself in danger of falling. Again, remember what St. Alphonsus
said: “WHEN MEN AVOID THE OCCASIONS OF SIN, GOD PRESERVES THEM; BUT WHEN THEY
EXPOSE THEMSELVES TO DANGER, THEY ARE JUSTLY ABANDONED BY THE LORD, AND EASILY
FALL INTO SOME GRIEVOUS TRANSGRESSIONS.” And the Seraphic Father, St. Francis,
in one of his favorite sayings confirms that “These are
the weapons by which the chaste soul is overcome: looks, speeches, touches,
embraces.” (St. Francis of Assisi, Works of the
Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi, p. 146)

We recommend that no one watch videos or even
listen to audios at all (unless perhaps you wish to
only listen to strictly religious things), but if you want to watch more
secular things (such as news clips, documentaries or whatever else, even
religious films) then listen to audio only. This means that you should turn the
television around or put something over the screen. If on the internet, it
means that you should avoid watching the video that is playing; or download VLC
Player and disable video in preferences, and download the videos instead of
watching them on the internet, and listen to them only as audio through VLC
Player (as far as we know, VLC Player is the only video player that even has an
option to disable video in settings). You can also download videos and convert
them to mp3 or download an extension or program that does it automatically for
you. This is a good youtube to mp3 website that we recommend (enter it without
images on, of course, since I have no idea of what it may show!):

You can also follow our detailed instructions for Google Chrome and Chromium based browsers on how to easily watch youtube videos while having the video screen hidden so that you can only hear the audio playing and see the youtube captions (the video screen can still be enabled with one easy click). This is great for those who do not want to see the video and only hear the audio!

If you
enter youtube videos, you should disable auto play so that videos do not play
automatically for the same reason (the flashblock addons linked to above does
the trick). You can also disable youtube comments in channel settings or by extensions.
Many of them are pure evil, filthy and spiritually distracting anyway. But the comments
vary in badness depending on the video you are watching or entering. But just
so you know, it is possible to disable seeing them.

Images must also be blocked when surfing on
youtube! The number of bad, immodest and mortally
sinful inducing images I myself have seen on youtube, and especially in the
related videos while watching a video, or after it ended, is almost
innumerable! (and no, I don’t watch sensual material and anyone who has spent
any time on youtube will know from experience that related thumbnails can be
pure evil and filthy regardless of what videos you are watching, be it a news
clip or a religious video, and the latter example is especially true if it
concerns a moral subject). Having images blocked goes for all websites that
have any bad images in them, even wikipedia, unless the article is deemed safe.
(For the same reason, it is evil and a sin to link to articles that one knows
contains any bad images. Yet many people, even traditional so-called Catholics,
as we have seen, frequently, and without any scruple, link to such articles and
posts such materials all the time just as if they thought they will not receive
a judgment for every person that has becomes affected or aroused sensually by
what they posted, linked to or were personally responsible for.) Also, on
Firefox, never watch a youtube video to the end, or, if you do, scroll
down before the film ends, since the related video images on Firefox—that
are shown in the video screen—sadly doesn’t get blocked by having images
disabled. I have seen not a few evil images because of that, sadly. Now I
know better, and that one must avoid seeing this and falling into this devilish
trap (but happily, we don’t even watch videos anymore and we encourage all to follow
this same advice).

St. Alphonsus, On avoiding the occasions
of sin: “Some also believe that it is only a venial sin to expose
themselves to the proximate occasion of sin. The catechist must explain that
those who do not abstain from voluntary proximate occasions of
grievous sin are guilty of a mortal sin, even though they have the
intention of not committing the bad act, to the danger of which they expose
themselves. … It is necessary to inculcate frequently the necessity of avoiding
dangerous occasions; for, if proximate occasions, especially of carnal sins,
are not avoided, all other means will be useless for our salvation.” (The
complete ascetical works of St. Alphonsus, vol. 15, pp. 351-355)

Considering the quotes of St. Alphonsus on
avoiding occasions of sin and about how God demands more of certain souls that
He has given more graces: it is highly important for one’s salvation to not
watch media or expose oneself to dangerous occasions (such as by surfing the
internet with images on).

Pope Innocent XI, Various Errors on Moral Matters
#61, March 4, 1679: “He can sometimes be absolved, who remains in a
proximate occasion of sinning, which he can and does not wish to omit,
but rather directly and professedly seeks or enters into.” – Condemned
statement by Pope Innocent XI.

Pope Innocent XI, Various Errors on Moral
Matters #62, March 4, 1679: “The proximate occasion for sinning is not
to be shunned when some useful and honorable cause for not shunning it
occurs.” – Condemned statement by Pope Innocent XI.

Pope Innocent XI, Various Errors on Moral
Matters #63, March 4, 1679: “It is permitted to seek directly the
proximate occasion for sinning for a spiritual or temporal good of our own
or of a neighbor.” – Condemned statement by Pope Innocent XI.

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori describes in his
masterpiece book “The True Spouse of Jesus Christ” howModesty
of the Eyes is absolutely crucial for all people to have in order to save
their souls:

St. Alphonsus: “On the mortification of
the eyes, and on modesty in general. Almost all our rebellious passions
spring from unguarded looks; for, generally speaking, it is by the sight that
all inordinate affections and desires are excited. Hence, holy Job "made a
covenant with his eyes, that he would not so much as think upon a virgin."
(Job xxxi. 1) Why did he say that he would not so much as think upon a virgin?
Should he not have said that he made a covenant with his eyes not to look at a
virgin? No; he very properly said that he would not think upon a virgin;
because thoughts are so connected with looks, that the former cannot be separated
from the latter, and therefore, to escape the molestation of evil imaginations,
he resolved never to fix his eyes on a woman.

“St. Augustine says:
"The thought follows the look; delight comes after the thought; and
consent after delight." From the look proceeds the thought; from the
thought the desire; for, as St. Francis de Sales says, what is not seen is not
desired, and to the desire succeeds the consent.

“If Eve had not looked at
the forbidden apple, she should not have fallen; but because "she saw that
it was good to eat, and fair to the eyes, and beautiful to behold, she took of
the fruit thereof, and did eat." (Gen. iii. 6) The devil first tempts us
to look, then to desire, and afterwards to consent.

“St. Jerome says that
Satan requires "only a beginning on our part." If we begin, he will
complete our destruction. A deliberate glance at a person of a different sex
often enkindles an infernal spark, which consumes the soul. "Through
the eyes," says St. Bernard, "the deadly arrows of love enters."
The first dart that wounds and frequently robs chaste souls of life finds
admission through the eyes. By them David, the beloved of God, fell. By them
was Solomon, once the inspired of the Holy Ghost, drawn into the greatest
abominations. Oh! how many are lost by indulging their sight!

“The eyes must be
carefully guarded by all who expect not to be obliged to join in the
lamentation of Jeremiah: "My eye hath wasted my soul." (Jer. iii. 51)
By the introduction of sinful affections my eyes have destroyed my soul. Hence
St. Gregory says, that "the eyes, because they draw us to sin, must be
depressed." If not restrained, they will become instruments of hell, to
force the soul to sin almost against its will. "He that looks at a
dangerous object," continues the saint, "begins to will what he wills
not." It was this the inspired writer intended to express when he said
of Holofernes, that "the beauty of Judith made his soul captive."
(Jud. xvi 11)

“Seneca says that
"blindness is a part of innocence;" and Tertullian relates that a
certain pagan philosopher, to free himself from impurity, plucked out his eyes.
Such an act would be unlawful in us: but he that desires to preserve chastity
must avoid the sight of objects that are apt to excite unchaste thoughts.
"Gaze not about," says the Holy Ghost, "upon another’s beauty; .
. . hereby lust is enkindled as a fire." (Ecc. ix. 8, 9) Gaze not upon
another’s beauty; for from looks arise evil imaginations, by which an impure
fire is lighted up. Hence St. Francis de Sales used to say, that "they who
wish to exclude an enemy from the city must keep the gates locked."

“Hence, to avoid the
sight of dangerous objects, the saints were accustomed to keep their eyes
almost continually fixed on the earth, and to abstain even from looking at
innocent objects. After being a novice for a year, St. Bernard could not
tell whether his cell was vaulted. In consequence of never raising his eyes
from the ground, he never knew that there were but three windows to the church
of the monastery, in which he spent his novitiate. He once, without perceiving
a lake, walked along its banks for nearly an entire day; and hearing his
companions speak about it, he asked when they had seen it. St. Peter of
Alcantara kept his eyes constantly cast down, so that he did not know the
brothers with whom he conversed. It was by the voice, and not by the
countenance, that he was able to recognize them.

“The saints were
particularly cautious not to look at persons of a different sex. St. Hugh,
bishop, when compelled to speak with women, never looked at them in the face.
St. Clare would never fix her eyes on the face of a man. She was greatly
afflicted because, when raising her eyes at the elevation to see the
consecrated host, she once involuntarily saw the countenance of the priest. St.
Aloysius never looked at his own mother in the face. It is related of St.
Arsenius, that a noble lady went to visit him in the desert, to beg of him to
recommend her to God. When the saint perceived that his visitor was a woman, he
turned away from her. She then said to him: "Arsenius, since you will
neither see nor hear me, at least remember me in your prayers."
"No," replied the saint, "but I will beg of God to make me
forget you, and never more to think of you."

“From these examples
may be seen the folly and temerity of some religious who, though they have not
the sanctity of a St. Clare, still gaze around from the terrace, in the
parlour, and in the church, upon every object that presents itself, even on
persons of a different sex. And notwithstanding their unguarded looks, they
expect to be free from temptations and from the danger of sin. For having once
looked deliberately at a woman who was gathering ears of corn, the Abbot Pastor
was tormented for forty years by temptations against chastity. St. Gregory
states that the temptation, to conquer which St. Benedict rolled himself in
thorns, arose from one incautious glance at a woman. St. Jerome, though living
in a cave at Bethlehem, in continual prayer and macerations of the flesh, was
terribly molested by the remembrance of ladies whom he had long before seen in
Rome. Why should not similar molestations be the lot of the religious who
willfully and without reserve fixes her eyes on persons of a different sex?
"It is not," says St. Francis de Sales, "the seeing of objects
so much as the fixing of our eyes upon them that proves most pernicious."

“"If," says St.
Augustine, "our eyes should by chance fall upon others, let us take care
never to fix them upon any one." Father Manareo, when taking leave of St.
Ignatius for a distant place, looked steadfastly in his face: for this look he
was corrected by the saint. From the conduct of St. Ignatius on this
occasion, we learn that it was not becoming in religious to fix their eyes on
the countenance of a person even of the same sex, particularly if the person is
young. But I do not see how looks at young persons of a different sex can be
excused from the guilt of a venial fault, or even from mortal sin, when there
is proximate danger of criminal consent. "It is not lawful," says St.
Gregory, "to behold what it is not lawful to covet." The evil thought
that proceeds from looks, though it should be rejected, never fails to leave a
stain upon the soul. Brother Roger, a Franciscan of singular purity, being once
asked why he was so reserved in his intercourse with women, replied, that when
men avoid the occasions of sin, God preserves them; but when they expose
themselves to danger, they are justly abandoned by the Lord, and easily fall
into some grievous transgressions.

“The indulgence of the
eyes, if not productive of any other evil, at least destroys recollection
during the time of prayer. For, the images and impressions caused by the
objects seen before, or by the wandering of the eyes, during prayer, will occasion
a thousand distractions, and banish all recollection from the soul. It is
certain that without recollection a religious can pay but little attention to
the practice of humility, patience, mortification, or of the other virtues.
Hence it is her duty to abstain from all looks of curiosity, which distract her
mind from holy thoughts. Let her eyes be directed only to objects which raise
the soul to God.

“St. Bernard used to say,
that to fix the eyes upon the earth contributes to keep the heart in heaven.
"Where," says St. Gregory, "Christ is, there modesty is
found." Wherever Jesus Christ dwells by love, there modesty is practiced.
However, I do not mean to say that the eyes should never be raised or never
fixed on any object. No; but they ought to be directed only to what inspires
devotion, to sacred images, and to the beauty of creation, which elevate the
soul to the contemplation of the divinity. Except in looking at such objects, a
religious should in general keep the eyes cast down, and particularly in places
where they may fall upon dangerous objects. In conversing with men, she should
never roll the eyes about to look at them, and much less to look at them a
second time.

“To practice modesty of
the eyes is the duty of a religious, not only because it is necessary for her
own improvement in virtue, but also because it is necessary for the edification
of others. God only knows the human heart: man sees only the exterior
actions, and by them he is edified or scandalized. "A man," says the
Holy Ghost, "is known by his look." (Ecc. xix. 26) By the countenance
the interior is known. Hence, like St. John the Baptist, a religious should be
"a burning and shining light." (John, v. 35) She ought to be a torch
burning with charity, and shining resplendent by her modesty, to all who behold
her. To religious the following words of the Apostle are particularly
applicable: "We are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to
men." (1 Cor. iv. 9) And again: "Let your modesty be known to all
men: the Lord is nigh." (Phil. iv. 5)

“Religious are attentively
observed by the angels and by men; and therefore their modesty should be made
manifest before all; if they do not practice modesty, terrible shall be the
account which they must render to God on the day of judgment. Oh! what devotion
does a modest religious inspire, what edification does she give, by keeping her
eyes always cast down! St. Francis of Assisi once said to his companion,
that he was going out to preach. After walking through the town, with his eyes
fixed on the ground, he returned to the convent. His companion asked him when
he would preach the sermon. We have, replied the saint, by the modesty of our
looks, given an excellent instruction to all who saw us. It is related of St.
Aloysius, that when he walked through Rome the students would stand in the
streets to observe and admire his great modesty.

“St. Ambrose says, that to
men of the world the modesty of the saints is a powerful exhortation to
amendment of life. "The look of a just man is an admonition to many."
The saint adds: "How delightful it is to do good to others by your
appearance!" It is related of St. Bernardine of Sienna, that even when a
secular, his presence was sufficient to restrain the licentiousness of his
young companions, who, as soon as they saw him, were accustomed to give to one
another notice that he was coming. On his arrival they became silent or changed
the subject of their conversation. It is also related of St. Gregory of Nyssa,
and of St. Ephrem, that their very appearance inspired piety, and that the
sanctity and modesty of their exterior edified and improved all that beheld
them. When Innocent II visited St. Bernard at Clairvaux, such was the exterior
modesty of the saint and of his monks, that the Pope and his cardinals were
moved to tears of devotion. Surius relates a very extraordinary fact of St.
Lucian, a monk and martyr. By his modesty he induced so many pagans to embrace the
faith, that the Emperor Maximian, fearing that he should be converted to
Christianity by the appearance of the saint, would not allow the holy man to be
brought within his view, but spoke to him from behind a screen.

“That our Redeemer was
the first who taught, by his example, modesty of the eyes, may, as a learned
author remarks, be inferred from the holy evangelists, who say that on some
occasion he raised his eyes. "And he, lifting up his eyes on his
disciples." (Luke, vi. 20) "When Jesus therefore had lifted up his
eyes." (John, vi. 5.) From these passages we may conclude that the
Redeemer ordinarily kept his eyes cast down. Hence the Apostle, praising the
modesty of the Saviour, says: "I beseech you, by the mildness and modesty
of Christ." (2 Cor. x. 1)

“I shall conclude this
subject with what St. Basil said to his monks: "If, my children, we desire
to raise the soul towards heaven, let us direct the eyes towards the earth."
From the moment we awake in the morning, let us pray continually in the words
of holy David: "Turn away my eyes, that they may not behold vanity"
(Ps. cxviii. 37).” (St. Alphonsus Liguori, The True Spouse of Jesus Christ,
Modesty of the Eyes, pp. 252-261)

St. Francis of Assisi used to exhort his brethren frequently
to guard and mortify their senses with the utmost care. He especially insisted
on the custody of the eyes, and he used this parable of a King’s two messengers
to demonstrate how the purity of the eyes reveals the chastity of the soul:

“A certain pious King sent two messengers successively to the
Queen with a communication from himself. The first messenger returned and
brought an answer from the Queen, which he delivered exactly. But of the Queen
herself he said nothing because he had always kept his eyes modestly cast down
and had not raised them to look at her.

The second messenger also returned. But after delivering in a
few words the answer of the Queen, he began to speak warmly of her beauty.
“Truly, my lord,” he said, “the Queen is the most fair and lovely woman I have
ever seen, and thou art indeed happy and blessed to have her for thy spouse.”

At this the King was angry and said: “Wicked servant, how did
you dare to cast your eyes upon my royal spouse? I believe that you may covet
what you have so curiously gazed upon.”

Then he commanded the other messenger to be recalled, and said
to him: “What do you think of the Queen?”

He replied, “She listened very willingly and humbly to the
message of the King and replied most prudently.”

But the Monarch again asked him, “But what do you think of her
countenance? Did she not seem to you very fair and beautiful, more so than any
other woman?”

The servant replied, “My lord, I know nothing of the Queen’s
beauty. Whether she be fair or not, it is for thee alone to know and judge. My
duty was only to convey thy message to her.”

The King rejoined, “You have answered well and wisely. You who
have such chaste and modest eyes shall be my chamberlain. From the purity of
your eyes I see the chastity of your soul. You are worthy to have the care of
the royal apartments confided to you.”

Then, turning to the other messenger, he said: “But you, who
have such unmortified eyes, depart from the palace. You shall not remain in my
house, for I have no confidence in your virtue.” (The Works of the Seraphic
Father St. Francis of Assisi, London: R. Washbourne, 1882, pp. 254-255)

Concerning modesty of the eyes and related virtues, St.
Hippolytus of Rome (c. 170-236 A.D.) explains how Holy Scripture in the Book
of Proverbs commands us to stay away from all occasions of sin:

“[Proverbs 4:25 “Let thy eyes look straight on, and let
thy eyelids go before thy steps.”] He “looks right on” who has thoughts
free of passion; and he has true judgments, who is not in a state of excitement
about external appearances. ….

“[Proverbs 6:27 “Can a man hide fire
in his bosom, and his garments not burn?”] That thou mayest not say, What
harm is there in the eyes, when there is no necessity that he should be
perverted who looks? he shows thee that desire is a fire, and the flesh is like
a garment. The latter is an easy prey, and the former is a tyrant. And when
anything harmful is not only taken within, but also held fast, it will not go
forth again until it has made an exit for itself. For he who looks upon a
woman, even though he escape the temptation, does not come away pure of all lust.
And why should one have trouble, if he can be chaste and free of trouble? …
And, figuratively speaking, he keeps a fire in his breast who permits an impure
thought to dwell in his heart. And he walks upon coals who, by sinning in act,
destroys his own soul.

“[Proverbs 7:21-25 “[21] She
entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the flattery of her lips.
[22] Immediately he followeth her as an ox led to be a victim, and as a lamb
playing the wanton, and not knowing that he is drawn like a fool to bonds, [23]
Till the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste to the snare,
and knoweth not that his life is in danger. [24] Now therefore, my son, hear
me, and attend to the words of my mouth. [25] Let not thy mind be drawn away in
her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths.”] The “cemphus” [the
fool] is a kind of wild sea-bird, which has so immoderate an impulse to sexual
enjoyment, that its eyes seem to fill with blood in coition; and it often
blindly falls into snares, or into the hands of men [Footnote: “The cemphus is
said to be a sea-bird “driven about by every wind,” so that it is equal to a
fool.” [Proverbs 7:22]]. To this, therefore, he [Solomon] compares the man who
gives himself up to the harlot on account of his immoderate lust; or else on account
of the insensate folly of the creature, for he, too, pursues his object like
one senseless. And they say that this bird is so much pleased with foam, that
if one should hold foam in his hand as he sails, it will sit upon his hand. And
it also brings forth with pain.

“[Proverbs 7:26 “For she hath cast
down many wounded, and the strongest have been slain by her.”] You have
seen her mischief. Wait not to admit the rising of lust; for her death is
everlasting. And for the rest, by her words, her arguments in sooth, she
wounds, and by her sins she kills those who yield to her. For many are the
forms of wickedness that lead the foolish down to hell. And the chambers of
death mean either its depths or its treasure. How, then, is escape possible?”
(The Extant Works and Fragments of Hippolytus, "On Proverbs," by St.
Hippolytus of Rome, 170-236 A.D., vol. 5, Ante-Nicene Fathers)

Then we have the temptation of curiosity “Which is Stimulated
by the Lust of the Eyes” according to St. Augustine’s famous work “The Confessions”.
There can be no doubt that the temptation of curiosity is one of the most
common reasons why people place themselves in the occasion of sin, and thus
commit mortal sin by this act. In Chapter 35 that deals with the topic of “Another
Kind of Temptation is Curiosity, Which is Stimulated by the Lust of the Eyes”
we see very clearly how evil and dangerous this curiosity is:

“In addition to this there is another form of temptation,
more complex in its peril. For besides that concupiscence of the flesh which
lies in the gratification of all senses and pleasures, wherein its slaves who
are far from You [God] perish, there pertains to the soul, through the same
senses of the body, a certain vain and curious longing, cloaked under the name
of knowledge and learning, not of having pleasure in the flesh, but of making
experiments through the flesh. This longing, since it originates in an appetite
for knowledge, and the sight being the chief among the senses in the
acquisition of knowledge, is called in divine language, the lust of the eyes. (1 John 2:16) For seeing belongs properly to the eyes; yet
we apply this word to the other senses also, when we exercise them in the
search after knowledge. For we do not say, Listen how it glows, smell how it
glistens, taste how it shines, or feel how it flashes, since all these are said
to be seen. And yet we say not only, See how it shines, which the eyes alone
can perceive; but also, See how it sounds, see how it smells, see how it
tastes, see how hard it is. And thus the general experience of the senses, as
was said before, is termed the lust of the eyes, because the function of
seeing, wherein the eyes hold the pre-eminence, the other senses by way of
similitude take possession of, whenever they seek out any knowledge.

“But by this is it more clearly
discerned, when pleasure and when curiosity is pursued by the senses; for
pleasure follows after objects that are beautiful, melodious, fragrant,
savoury, soft; but curiosity, for experiment’s sake, seeks the contrary of these—not
with a view of undergoing uneasiness, but from the passion of experimenting
upon and knowing them. For what pleasure is there to see, in a lacerated
corpse, that which makes you shudder? And yet if it lie near, we flock there,
to be made sad, and to turn pale. Even in sleep they fear lest they should see
it. Just as if when awake any one compelled them to go and see it, or any
report of its beauty had attracted them! Thus also is it with the other senses,
which it were tedious to pursue. From this malady of curiosity are all those
strange sights exhibited in the theatre [the evil media of their days]. Hence
do we proceed to search out the secret powers of nature (which is beside our
end), which to know profits not, and wherein men desire nothing but to know.
Hence, too, with that same end of perverted knowledge we consult magical arts.
Hence, again, even in religion itself, is God tempted, when signs and wonders
are eagerly asked of Him—not desired for any saving end, but to make trial
only.

“In this so vast a wilderness, replete
with snares and dangers, lo, many of them have I lopped off, and expelled from
my heart, as Thou, O God of my salvation, hast enabled me to do. And yet when
dare I say, since so many things of this kind buzz around our daily life—when
dare I say that no such thing makes me intent to see it, or creates in me vain
solicitude? It is true that the theatres never now carry me away, nor do I now
care to know the courses of the stars, nor has my soul at any time consulted
departed spirits; all sacrilegious oaths I abhor. O Lord my God, to whom I owe
all humble and single-hearted service, with what subtlety of suggestion does
the enemy influence me to require some sign from You! But by our King, and by
our pure land chaste country Jerusalem, I beseech You, that as any consenting
unto such thoughts is far from me, so may it always be farther and farther. But
when I entreat You for the salvation of any, the end I aim at is far otherwise,
and Thou who doest what You will, givest and wilt give me willingly to follow
You. (John 21:22)

“Nevertheless, in how many most minute
and contemptible things is our curiosity daily tempted, and who can number how
often we succumb? How often, when people are narrating idle tales, do we begin
by tolerating them, lest we should give offense unto the weak; and then
gradually we listen willingly! I do not nowadays go to the circus to see a dog
chasing a hare; but if by chance I pass such a coursing in the fields, it
possibly distracts me even from some serious thought, and draws me after it—not
that I turn the body of my beast aside, but the inclination of my mind. And
except Thou, by demonstrating to me my weakness, dost speedily warn me, either
through the sight itself, by some reflection to rise to You, or wholly to
despise and pass it by, I, vain one, am absorbed by it. How is it, when sitting
at home, a lizard catching flies, or a spider entangling them as they rush into
her nets, oftentimes arrests me? Is the feeling of curiosity not the same
because these are such tiny creatures? From them I proceed to praise You, the
wonderful Creator and Disposer of all things; but it is not this that first
attracts my attention. It is one thing to get up quickly, and another not to
fall, and of such things is my life full; and my only hope is in Your exceeding
great mercy. For when this heart of ours is made the receptacle of such things,
and bears crowds of this abounding vanity, then are our prayers often
interrupted and disturbed thereby; and while in Your presence we direct the
voice of our heart to Your ears, this so great a matter is broken off by the
influx of I know not what idle thoughts.” (St. Augustine, The Confessions,
Book X, Chapter XXXV.--Another Kind of Temptation is Curiosity, Which is
Stimulated by the Lust of the Eyes.)

To
talk overmuch of worldly and unnecessary things is also considered
vain babblings and should be totally avoided. If you have nothing
good to say, referring to God or the edification of the soul, then
one should keep quiet. Vain babbling will lead to ungodliness as
stated above, for that which a person talks much about, that he is
full of in his heart. If God is not in the heart of man, then Satan
must occupy that place, and you cannot serve both God and man!

VIDEO
GAMES

Almost
every kind of game that exists in our sad time has numerous mortally
sinful things in them which make them impossible to play without
going to hell. The younger generation especially, but also older
people, is so perverted and drugged by these new games that they seem
to live for nothing else!

Firstly,
there are the countless games who have a person going around killing
or hurting other humans or creatures for fun; for example,
Counter-Strike, Halo, Grand Theft Auto, Starcraft, Modern Warfare,
Gears of Wars, Tekken, etc. To play such a game is not only sick but
abominable. Think about it: to play a game for fun or pleasure which
is constituted of the murder or hurt of another being!

God
solemnly declares that he will judge our every thought, how much more
then will he judge our deeds? When we in our mind take delight and
enjoy killing or hurting other beings, God takes this as an act in
the very same way as he judges us as murderers if we hate our
brother, or, as an adulterer if we look at a woman with lust in our
heart. What then will God judge you to be when you in your heart love
abominable things?

Secondly,
there is the constant danger of hate, uncontrollable wrath, and pride
in games when it doesn't go as people would like it to go, and this
is more true when playing games online. For when people think of
themselves that they are good in the game they play, they are puffed
up and deceived into thinking that this victory in a worthless game
actually makes them someone. This is truly pathetic! But if someone
then beats them, their pride and arrogance gets hurt, and they get
mad, angry and wroth. Who have not had experience of this in
online-gaming? Sure, these things happen on single player games as
well but it isn't as common. Online games are by far the worst and
sinful of all the games, since they not only affects you, but the
others you play with as well. Do you understand now why online games
are the most dangerous of all the games? Do you realize now that
every person you have affected by your gaming will demand just
vengeance over you, unless you blot these sins out by penance,
repentance and confession? Giving others a bad example and being the
cause or accessory of another person’s damnation is the worst
of all the sins one can be guilty of in this life. Every single
thought, word, and deed will be carefully judged and avenged the
moment you die. You cannot hide from death.

Thirdly,
there are countless of games who try to display magic and the occult
as not only acceptable but even good and praiseworthy; for example,
World of Warcraft, Diablo, Oblivion, etc. Yes in those games, one is
even awarded by magic and occult themes for murdering or hurting the
opponent. Eternal Hell will be the home of all you who plays such
games, for they are all against God, they are all based on breaking
God's commandments and doing evil and violence, or enjoying others
doing evil and violence. Whether or not you or the world say its good
vs evil, or whether it be humans or monsters you are murdering or
hurting, does not change the fact that the games in themselves are
totally evil and fruitless, often extremely violent, and as with
movies, often compels the player to take actions, agree or disagree
with occurrences, which in godly terms are unacceptable and
abominable. Playing these games will only serve to stir you up
towards wanting to play more. Games with much violence and fighting,
or with the ability of sinning in pride by show-offs, or with much
usage of magic-powers of the occult, or with the ability to achieve
personal fame in a fantasy land, or the show-off with skills, as with
online-games, are all the most dangerous since they serve to stir up
the flesh and body the most in a false and unholy fire of pleasure
and thrill.
A person that doesn't cut this off from himself will in fact lose his
soul!

PRO-SPORTS

Pro-sports
may seem to have no sin in it, but countless of mortal sins will be
exposed when one examines it carefully.

First,
almost every kind of pro-sports supports the mortal sin of gambling,
and it is just a fact that these teams or players get a large portion
of their pay-check from gambling. Pro-sports is in fact one of the
biggest, if not the biggest generator of the mortal sin of gambling,
which has destroyed countless of families and lead millions of poor
souls to despair, suicide and hell. Thus, those who watch these
games, watch people who are getting paid for supporting and making
the mortal sin of gambling exist. To enjoy the eternal soul killing
of other human beings is a clear cut mortal sin.

Second,
almost every kind of pro-sport is played on Sundays which is a clear
mortal sin since it is a work for these players and they get a
pay-check from it. Therefore, they are breaking one of God’s
Ten Commandments, and there is no excuse for such things. It is a
clear mortal sin to enjoy someone committing mortal sin.

Third,
as we can see from the Book of the Machabees, the Jewish people
neglected the divine worship in order to attend to different sport
festivities at the arena. This is now prophetically fulfilled in many
people who call themselves Catholic. For instead of praying the
Rosary, reading the word of God and playing with and educating their
children in good Christian morals as the Sunday is intended for, they
watch these sinful games while placing their children in front of
another TV set, neglecting their spiritual well being. Many saints
teach that sports in of itself is no sin - which it of course isn’t
- but when it becomes too serious and more than a fun game between
friends or when one take too much delight in it or makes too big
thing of that which has no value, then they unanimously teach that it
becomes sinful.

St. Francis de Sales- “Sports,
plays, festivities, etc, are not in themselves evil, but rather
indifferent matters, capable of being used for good or ill; but
nevertheless they are dangerous, and it is still more dangerous to
take great delight in them.”

St. Francis de Sales- “Walking,
harmless games, music, instrumental or vocal, field sports, etc., are
such entirely lawful recreations that they need no rules beyond those
of ordinary discretion, which keep every thing within due limits of
time, place, and degree. So again games of skill, which exercise and
strengthen body or mind, such as tennis, rackets, running at the
ring, chess, and the like, are in themselves both lawful and good.
Only one must avoid excess, either in the time given to them, or the
amount of interest they absorb; for if too much time be given up to
such things, they cease to be a recreation and become an occupation;
and so far from resting and restoring mind or body, they have
precisely the contrary effect. After five or six hours spent over
chess, one’s mind is spent and weary, and too long a time given
to tennis results in physical exhaustion; or if people play for a
high stake, they get anxious and discomposed, and such unimportant
objects are unworthy of so much care and thought. But, above all,
beware of setting your heart upon any of these things, for however
lawful an amusement may be, it is wrong to give one’s heart up
to it. Not that I would not have you take pleasure in what you are
doing,—it were no recreation else,—but I would not have
you engrossed by it, or become eager or over fond of any of these
things.”

Fourthly,
people are spending billions of dollars on something that is supposed
to be a game of fun. They have made a worthless game which holds no
significance whatsoever, to become something serious. Think about it.
People say: This or that person runs so and so fast or won this or
that game. And people think about it as though it is some kind of
achievement worthy of praise, when it in fact is saddening and
abominable since it leads souls to hell. It is grown people valuing a
worthless game or sport as something that holds significance or
value: it is truly pathetic. They waste their money and time on this
filth when they could be trying to help souls that are falling daily
to the eternal fire in hell.

“And
so the human heart which is cumbered with useless, superfluous,
dangerous clingings becomes incapacitated for that earnest following
after God which is the true life of devotion. No one blames children
for running after butterflies, because they are children, but is it
not ridiculous and pitiful to see full-grown men eager about such
worthless trifles as the worldly amusements before named, (SPORTS,
balls, plays, festivities, pomps), which are likely to throw them off
their balance and disturb their spiritual life.” (St. Francis
de Sales, Introduction
into the Devout Life)

Fifthly,
most of the different athletes or players are very immodestly dressed
in clothes that are absolutely abominable for God since they are
tight and reveal so much flesh. Only a few hundred years ago, women
would have been arrested and jailed for wearing the clothes that
athletes or players wear now. To watch any game or sport that
supports or condones the five reasons mentioned above is totally
sinful and any honest person who has not refused to meditate on hell
and who realizes that it is possible that he or she may go to hell
will agree as long as he thinks about this issue in a rational and
calm manner. Don’t allow your dependency on sports to
trivialize clear cut mortal sins that are acted out in front of
everyone. Repent before it is too late!

PRO-SPORTS AND GAMBLING - ADDENDUM

Objection:
“I see... watching professional sports constitutes a mortal sin
because professional sports leads to gambling and peoples lives have
been ruined from gambling... but professional sports aren’t
made FOR gambling, by their logic they would have to be for gun
control to stay logical, and we all know that gun control is evil.”

Answer:
What we said was that pro-sports supports the mortal sin of gambling;
that their activities makes it exist; and that the players get a
paycheck for this activity and for their support of gambling and
other mortal sins – and that they thus are a part of all of
this. We also said that it is a mortal sin to enjoy people
committing mortal sin. The same truth of course applies to venial
sins as well. For example, one cannot actually “enjoy”
someone committing a mortal sin (or even venial sin), such as
“enjoying” or “laughing” at someone
committing adultery. For that is totally evil.

We
will add some new thoughts in addition to the above:

1.
Everyone knows that they play pro-sport matches on Sundays, and
therefore it would be wrong to watch them play sports on Sundays by
default. I think everyone can agree with that, since they get a
paycheck for playing their games and it is a work for them.

2.
Having guns have a necessity. So if judging things by necessity,
having or buying guns is nothing wrong. So this argument is clearly
false and the Church condemns gambling and vain games of chance but
not self-defense. That is also why the Church (since the
beginning) outlawed the Olympics and it is only recently –
prior to the Great Apostasy – that this useless activity
started to be promoted again by the World and by Satan. It is
very interesting to consider this fact, for it proves that the Church
disapproves of such vain, useless and harmful activities which makes
one forget about God and neglect one’s duties. In truth, the
Church undoubtedly understood this truth about pro-sports in part
from the example of the Old Testament and the books of the Maccabees
which shows us that these kinds of vain games deceives people (as is
proved by the example of the Jews during the time of the Maccabees
who neglected God and their duties because of the sports arena that
had been built there, in the Kingdom of Judah).

Apostolic
Constitutions, Book II, Section 7:62, A.D. 380: “That
Christians Must Abstain From All The Impious Practices Of The
Heathens - Take heed, therefore, not to join yourselves... with
those that favour the things of the devil, [for you] will be esteemed
one of them, and will inherit a woe... lest by uniting ourselves to
them we bring snares upon our own souls; that we may not by joining
in their feasts... be partakers with them in their impiety. You are
also to avoid their public meetings, and those sports which are
celebrated in them. For a believer ought not to go to any of
those public meetings, unless to purchase a slave, and save a soul?
and at the same time to buy such other things as suit their
necessities. Abstain, therefore, from all idolatrous pomp and state,
all their public meetings, banquets, duels, and all shows belonging
to demons.” (Apostolic Constitutions, Treatises on Early
Christian Discipline)

3.
And one could indeed say that today’s professional sport is in
a large part made for and supported by gambling, and evil
commercials, since this is what much of their income comes from. And
obviously, sports today have become “Pro” for a reason;
and that is that there is great profit to make from it.

4.
Many professional sports teams and games also promote cheerleaders
which is a damnable mortal sin similar to prostitution since they
incite people to commit sins of impurity and adultery in their hearts
(Matthew 5:28). One can truly say that the abominable activities of
cheerleaders of today are very similar to striptease since they are
not only half naked, showing almost every part of their body either
directly or indirectly by tight clothes, but also because they dance
and move in a sensual way in accordance to the match times. Thus,
those who are watching these games are taking enjoyment in mortal
sins that are integral to the game, and which would not exist but for
this special game there and that are so evil that it screams to
heaven for vengeance.

One
can only shudder in amazement, trembling and fear over how many
billions of impure thoughts that have been directly incited by these
games, and how many millions or billions of people that have been
damned because of them. Indeed, if we could see all those lost people
right now as we speak burning in Hell, we would immediately cease
watching these accursed games or have a liking for their evil
activities, and would repent in sackcloth and ashes, never daring to
open our eyes or mouth in contradiction to Our Lord’s Holy
Will. But for the most part of humanity, the time of repentance will
never come or come too late when they are already dead and judged to
an eternal torment in Hell; but then it is sadly to late for them.
For they all chose to do and enjoy things that their conscience knew
was opposed to God’s Holy Law.

Objection:
“You are blaming football players for scantily-clad
cheerleaders. There’s no connection, they don’t make the
rules or set the program about what the cheerleaders are wearing.
This isn’t even material participation.”

Answer:
The cheerleaders are part of the same team, and wouldn’t be
there unless their team played the game. Hence that the
players themselves are the direct cause of this problem.
They are there and a part of the game. They are not excluded from it,
but known by all. They are part of the game and attraction. They
dance and move in accordance to the match times. They are part of the
whole thing. To deny this is just simply to be a mortal sinner and an
outrageous liar.

The
players are obviously not unaware of the fact that millions of people
are watching their games and thus see these whorish women half naked
dancing there for the exact cause of their deed of approving of and
consenting to playing these games. In fact, none of this would happen
unless they (the players, their team, their supporters, and their
viewers) all approved of this and supported this activity by their
continual presence at these games or by their support of them,
whether materially or directly. If someone were really opposed to the
fact that this sin should take place, he would be obliged to stop
participating in these matches and stop support the evil team that
allows this to happen. If they don’t, they become a partner in
the sin.

Catechism
Question: “In how many ways may we either cause or share in the
guilt of another’s sin?” Answer: “We
may either cause or share the guilt of another’s sin in nine
ways: 1. By counsel. 2. By command. 3. By consent.
4. By provocation. 5. By praise or flattery. 6. By concealment. 7.
By being a partner in the sin.8. By silence.
9. By defending the ill done.”

They
are thus guilty in every way possible. Even more so when one
considers that their games or work constitutes non-necessities. Their
work is completely unnecessary and serves no real purpose except for
a useless entertainment for vain people. It is also the greatest
waste of money possibly on earth, billions or trillions of dollars
are wasted on absolutely nothing.

Behold
a perfect comparison of the evilness of cheerleaders and tacit
consent: If there were a game like a gladiator game where people took
amusement in other people killing each other - like in the old roman
time - this would of course be a mortal sin to view and enjoy. Now,
if there was a football game as the main attraction beside the
gladiator game, and the gladiators (that is, the soul murdering
cheerleaders in this comparison) were killing souls as a side
attraction that is part of the main game, would it then be allowed
for the players to be a part of this game or the viewers to view this
game, if they knew that this game contained these things? Of course
not! Now the cheerleaders are perhaps worse in killing souls than the
gladiators since they tempt billions of people into sin and eternal
death in Hell. They murder souls, yet the people who make this
objection above sadly don’t seem to care one bit about this
fact. Hell, however, will make all of them confess the truth the
moment or second after they die.

Instead
of excusing the players from culpability when they so obviously are
all in on this together – and are a direct part of this problem
– concerned people should rather tell these people to stop
playing and supporting these evil, vain and useless matches and
sports-teams that promotes such evil, soul slaying activities.

5.
If you don’t enjoy any of the above mentioned things that are
evil, then there is no reason for why you would even want to watch
professional sports at all, or care that much about it. For if one
considers this matter seriously, that is, that those people who take
part in pro-sports activities are totally deceived by their vanity,
vainglory, pride, fame, and by the praise and idolization of
themselves by other weak human beings, then one would mourn for their
sake rather than seek a useless, unprofitable enjoyment from them.
For why would anyone want to enjoy people commit or support mortal
sin and worldliness or be happy about that they are totally deceived
by the world and that they are headed for Hell? It is totally evil.

Indeed,
the enjoyment derived from such pro-sports games is completely
useless anyway. One doesn’t even learn anything from it as one
does from watching a documentary, an educational program or a good
Christian film. And that is why some media can be excused while
pro-sports that have any sin connected to it must be avoided. All one
learns from pro-sport today essentially consists in this: vainglory,
pride, vanity and lasciviousness (from the cheerleaders); bad,
ungodly, sensual, superfluous and vain commercials; idolization and
praise of weak human beings; and useless cares and worries for
certain teams or players that will not help a person one bit in any
way to get to Heaven, and what is worse, one may even start to
secretly idolize or like them and what they do (and this last
point undoubtedly often happens if one frequently watch or follows
this useless activity).

Indeed,
St. Francis de Sales’ words about the evil occupation of
gambling applies perfectly to those who take vain pleasure in
pro-sports matches, games and teams:

“Moreover,
though such games may be called a recreation, and are intended as
such, they are practically an intense occupation. Is it not an
occupation, when a man’s mind is kept on the stretch of close
attention, and disturbed by endless anxieties, fears and agitations?
Who exercises a more dismal, painful attention than the [person
obsessed by his beloved sports team, player, or superstar]? No one
must speak [against them, their team, or idols] or laugh [or defeat
them],—if you do but cough you will annoy [or sadden] him and
his companions. The only pleasure in [these games] is to win, and
this cannot be a satisfactory pleasure, since it can only be enjoyed
at the expense of your antagonist.” (St Francis de Sales,
writing “On Gambling”, but this could as well have been
written directly with pro-sports in mind!)

All
of this will thus lead to that one will become sad or happy based on
the fact whether or not those whom one favored lost or won;
and this is totally evil since this means one enjoys their deeds in
their worldliness and ungodly lifestyle that is leading them to Hell.
One is thus becoming worried, happy or sad about all of this –
the evil they do and the deceived, unhappy lifestyle they lead –
and the sadness, anxiety or attention about what they do in this case
is not even about the right thing (that is, for their spiritual
blindness and that they are deceived and are headed for Hell) but
rather about the evil attachment for a vain pleasure and because
one’s self-love was hurt; and because they lost a useless game
– and because one cares for all of this! It is totally evil,
useless and vain.

6.
It is evil to be happy about musicians, sports players or other
people living an ungodly lifestyle just because one likes what they
do, and in this way, enjoy what they do. For example, it is evil to
want Madonna to continue making music because she is committing
mortal sin while she is doing so. One can enjoy a lawful moral song,
but one cannot enjoy mortal sin or venial sin being committed or
be happy about them or that their life is such; nor can one want them
to continue in such a state or career or have a mindset to be
obsessed by such (as many people sadly are today by being totally
obsessed with pro-sports, players, artists, actors, musicians, and so
called “superstars”). And even if one likes the song (a
moral, lawful song), one must be sad and mournful for the person’s
soul and spiritual state when thinking about their spiritual state,
and wish that they will stop doing whatever they are doing that are
leading them to Hell.

Objection:
“Even if cheerleaders is wrong, modest gambling is not wrong,
nor is it a sin. Neither does the Church forbid it. And one cannot
really say that watching sports would be wrong because it supports
gambling.”

7.
Several councils as well as saints and holy people in addition to
tradition have condemned and disapproved of gambling since the very
beginning (as we will see below). Therefore, it is clear that God and
the Church condemned and still condemns these activities as
evil and forbidden.

So
since the players get a paycheck for directly supporting evil and
forbidden activities against the Church’s laws—such as
gambling—as well as the cheerleaders—it is utterly
unlawful, condemned and sinful to watch these sinful games and find
enjoyment in them. Again, since all their pro-sport matches revolves
around supporting and promoting condemned activities, mortal sins and
non-necessities, it is clearly sinful and evil to watch and find
enjoyment in their criminal activities.

SOME QUOTES CONDEMNING GAMBLING

Council
of Elvira, Canon 79 (A.D. 306): “Christians who play dice
for money are to be excluded from receiving communion. If they
amend their ways and cease, they may receive communion after one
year.”

Apostolic
Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, Canon 42: “Let a bishop, or
presbyter, or deacon who indulges himself in dice or drinking,
either leave off those practices, or let him be
deprived.” Canon 43: “If a sub-deacon, a
reader, or a singer does the like, either let him leave off, or
let him be suspended; and so for one of the laity.”
(The Apostolic Constitutions, Treatises on Early Christian
Discipline)

St.
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 A.D.),
who is regarded as one of the most important Doctors of the Church,
writes the following concerning the above two canons: “We
read in the Canons of the apostles (Can. xli, xlii): ‘A bishop,
priest or deacon who is given to drunkenness or gambling,
or incites others thereto, must either cease or be deposed; a
subdeacon, reader or precentor who does these things must either
give them up or be excommunicated; the same applies to the
laity.’ Now such punishments are not inflicted save for
mortal sins. Therefore drunkenness [and gambling] is a mortal
sin.” (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part
of the Second Part, Q. 150, A. II. Whether drunkenness is a mortal
sin?)

St.
Clement of Alexandria, echoing the Church’s constant tradition
from the beginning against gambling, and the pursuit of gain caused
by the evil desire for riches “apart from the truth”,
wrote in the second century A.D.: “The game of dice is to be
prohibited, and the pursuit of gain, especially by dicing
[and other such games of gambling], which many keenly follow.
Such things the prodigality of luxury invents for the idle. For the
cause is idleness, and a love for frivolities apart from the truth.
For it is not possible otherwise to obtain enjoyment without injury;
and each man’s preference of a mode of life is a counterpart of
his disposition.” (Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol 2, p. 485)

The
venerated Dominican friar and preacher Girolamo Savonarola
(1452-1498) expounds on gambling and related activities at some
length, but more frequently inveighs against the corrupt manners of
the age, denouncing in turn every vice that was then prevalent. This,
for instance, is how he speaks against gambling: “If you see
persons engaged in gambling in these days, believe them to be no
Christians, since they are worse than infidels, are
ministers of the evil one, and celebrate his rites.
They are avaricious men, blasphemers, slanderers, detractors of
others’ fame, fault-finders, they are hateful to God, are
thieves, murderers, and full of all iniquity. I cannot permit ye to
share in these amusements; ye must be steadfast in prayer,
continually rendering thanks to the Almighty in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ. He that gambles shall be accursed, and accursed he
that suffers others to gamble; shun ye their conversation, for
the father that gambles before his son shall be accursed, and
accursed the mother that gambles in her daughter’s presence.
Therefore, whoever thou art, thou shalt be accursed if thou dost
gamble or allow others to gamble;” (Life and Times of
Girolamo Savonarola, chapter VIII, p. 105)

The
Catholic Encyclopedia adds that: “From very early times
gambling was forbidden by canon law. Two of the oldest (41, 42) among
the so-called canons of the Apostles forbade games of chance under
pain of excommunication to clergy and laity alike. The 79th canon
of the Council of Elvira (306) decreed that one of the faithful who
had been guilty of gambling might be, on amendment, restored to
communion after the lapse of a year. A homily (the famous "De
Aleatoribus") long ascribed by St. Cyprian, but by modern
scholars variously attributed to Popes Victor I, Callistus I, and
Melchiades, and which undoubtedly is a very early and interesting
monument of Christian antiquity, is a vigorous denunciation of
gambling. The Fourth Lateran Council (1215), by a decree
subsequently inserted in the "Corpus Juris", forbade
clerics to play or to be present at games of chance. Some
authorities, such as Aubespine, have attempted to explain the
severity of the ancient canons against gambling by supposing that
idolatry was often connected with it in practice. The pieces that
were played with were small-sized idols, or images of the gods, which
were invoked by the players for good luck. However, as Benedict XIV
remarks, this can hardly be true, as in that case the penalties
would have been still more severe.” [Notice how a
modernistic scholar tried to explain away the ancient Church teaching
against gambling. However, this false theory of him (and of others
like him) was of course refuted by Pope Benedict XIV]. (The
Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 6, "Gambling", A.D. 1909)

Wikipedia
relates a little history of gambling, and it says the following:
“Though lotteries were common in the United States and some
other countries during the 19th century, by the beginning of the 20th
century, most forms of gambling, including lotteries and
sweepstakes, were illegal in the U.S. and most
of Europe as well as many other countries.”

St.
Francis de Sales, Doctor
of the Church, in the
section “Of Forbidden Amusements” in his book
Introduction to the
Devout Life, clearly
shows us the inherent evil, unlawfulness and unreasonableness of
gambling and how both civil and ecclesiastical law outlawed gambling
in the past: “Dice,
cards, and the like games of hazard, are not merely dangerous
amusements, like dancing, but
they are plainly bad and harmful,
and therefore they
are forbidden by the civil as by the ecclesiastical law
[thus showing us that Catholic states banned or outlawed gambling
totally]. What harm is there in them? you ask. Such games are
unreasonable:—the winner often has neither skill nor industry
to boast of, which is contrary to reason. You reply that this is
understood by those who play. But though that may prove that you are
not wronging anybody, it does not prove that the game is in
accordance with reason, as victory ought to be the reward of skill or
labour, which it cannot be in mere games of chance. Moreover, though
such games may be called a recreation, and are intended as such, they
are practically an intense occupation. Is it not an occupation, when
a man’s mind is kept on the stretch of close attention, and
disturbed by endless anxieties, fears and agitations? Who exercises a
more dismal, painful attention than the gambler? No one must speak or
laugh,—if you do but cough you will annoy him and his
companions. The only pleasure in gambling is to win, and this cannot
be a satisfactory pleasure, since it can only be enjoyed at the
expense of your antagonist. Once, when he was very ill, St.
Louis [IX, King of France] heard
that his brother the Comte d’Anjou and Messire Gautier de
Nemours were gambling, and in spite of his weakness the King tottered
into the room where they were, and threw dice and money and
everything out of the window, in great indignation. And the pure and
pious Sara, in her appeal to God, declared that she had never had
dealings with gamblers. "I beg, O Lord, that thou loose me from
the bond of this reproach, or else take me away from the earth. Thou
knowest, O Lord, that I never coveted a husband, and have kept my
soul clean from all lust. Never have I joined myself with them that
play: neither have I made myself partaker with them that walk in
lightness" [Tobias 3:15-17].” (St. Francis de Sales,
Introduction to the
Devout Life, Chapter
XXXII, Of Forbidden Amusements)

St.
Francis de Sales also explains that we must confess all our motives
in Confession when we have sinned, and he mentions gambling as a sin:
“Again, do not be satisfied with mentioning the bare fact of
your venial sins, but accuse yourself of the motive cause which led
to them. For instance, do not be content with saying that you told an
untruth which injured no one; but say whether it was out of vanity,
in order to win praise or avoid blame, out of heedlessness, or from
obstinacy. If you have exceeded in society, say whether it was from
the love of talking, or gambling for the sake of money, and so
on.” (St. Francis de Sales,
Introduction to the Devout Life, p. 63)

As
with the use of alcohol, gambling can soon get out of hand and even
become addictive, and this type of problem definitely has moral and
religious overtones. An English proverb says, “The best throw
of the dice is to throw them away” — and in light of the
harm gambling can cause to one’s career, family life, and other
relationships, such an approach is of course the wisest one. The
examples from the lives of the saints that address this issue suggest
a need for great prudence and restraint when gambling is involved.
They also teach us to shun and avoid getting involved in gambling at
all cost. St. Augustine stated very simply and bluntly that, “The
Devil invented gambling,” and in one of his homilies, St. Basil
the Great told his people that, “If I let you go, and if I
dismiss this assembly, some will run to the dice, where they will
find bad language, sad quarrels and the pangs of avarice. There
stands the devil, inflaming the fury of the players with the dotted
bones, transporting the same sums of money from one side of the table
to the other, now exalting one with victory and throwing the other
into despair, now swelling the first with boasting and covering his
rival with confusion. Of what use is bodily fasting and filling the
soul with innumerable evils? He who does not play spends his leisure
elsewhere. What frivolities come from his mouth! What follies strike
his ears! Leisure without the fear of the Lord is, for those who do
not know the value of time, a school of vice. I hope that my words
will be profitable; at least by occupying you here they have
prevented you from sinning. Thus the longer I keep you, the longer
you are out of the way of evil.” (St. Basil the Great,
Hexaemeron, Homily 8:8)

As
should be absolutely clear by now, the Catholic Church and Her Saints
and Tradition condemns gambling and the evil pursuit of gain.

8.
Instead of gambling for money you do not need to survive, you should
instead use it to save another persons life from starvation, or their
soul from eternal death in Hell, which is the only really absolutely
important thing to do in this world. As a matter of fact, those who
gamble truly mock those who starve physically or spiritually on this
earth, since for the sake of materialism and greed, they waste money
on things that are utterly worthless, unnecessary and devoid of
godliness.

Consider
very carefully how you would feel if you were starving or in need of
a little money for something important, such as a medical treatment,
and someone you knew just went and squandered it on something totally
unnecessary without caring one bit that you were starving before his
face. In truth, this is very similar to what gamblers are doing. They
refuse to see that many people on this earth would only dream of
having the money they themselves thoughtlessly squander for the
purpose of superfluity, love of riches and materialism; but in Hell,
the poor and those who had almost nothing in this life will indeed be
thankful that they were not rich or had more possessions since
everything we own, as well as every single word we utter in this
life, will have to be accounted for in the day of judgment. All other
things being equal on earth, the torment in the hellfire of all those
who were poor on this earth will undoubtedly be less severe than for
those who had much more money and squandered it on unnecessary
things.

Consider
that most of the world’s poor population in the developing
world lives on less than $1 dollar a day. It’s shocking to
learn how many hundred of millions of people live on less or a little
more than $1 dollar a day—and yet people who gamble and waste
money on nothing squander much more than that—the money those
poor people could live on to survive.

9.
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s words in The Revelations of St.
Bridget clearly shows us that a person who does not use his
possessions for His sake “will incur a judgment” and
“that every person who does not hearken to others will himself
cry out and not be heard”, which means that he who does not
have charity with others, using his time, money and effort to help
and save them from Hell, or their temporal and spiritual necessities,
“will himself cry out [to God] and not be heard” both in
this life when he seeks to be relieved from his own troubles on this
earth, as well as in the eternal fire of Hell in the next, which is
the eternal abode of all who lack charity and love for their fellow
human beings.

Our
Lord Jesus Christ spoke, saying: “Reply firmly to him with the
four things I tell you now. The first is that many people lay up
treasure but do not know for whom. The second is that every person
entrusted with the Lords talent who does not spend it cheerfully will
incur a judgment. The third is that a person who loves land and
flesh more than God will not join the company of those who hunger and
thirst for justice. The fourth is that every person who does not
hearken to others will himself cry out and not be heard.” (In
The Revelations of St. Bridget, Book 4, Chapter 81)

10.
One argument that wicked people use to try to defend the sin of
gambling is that one may do whatever one wants with one’s
money. But is this really true? May one do whatever one wants with
one’s money? Of course not. It should go without saying that
one may only use one’s money in accordance to the laws of
God!

11.
And if you think this moral truth of God and of His Church is
“strict,” what do you think most critics, heretics and
lax people throughout the ages have thought of the very teachings of
the greatest amongst the Popes, Fathers and the Saints themselves?

It
is indeed a characteristic of the saints and of holiness and
zealousness to be strict and condemn and forbid useless, vain, and
dangerous activities, teachings or things. That is also why the
Church forbids and still forbids these things. Yet, it is not
infrequently one hears or reads about how some people impiously
claims that the Fathers, Saints, Popes and Councils were “wrong”
or “too harsh” on many of the things they taught or wrote
about. Some even go so far as to claim that they wrote for monks and
similar ascetics or for the benefit of the people of their own time,
and that as such, their writings or admonitions does not really apply
to us, just as if they thought that the sinner in this world and age
of ours will be judged by another judgment than the monk or the
spiritual man of former times! Well, they will not! St. John
Chrysostom writes concerning this, “You certainly deceive
yourself and are greatly mistaken if you think that there is one set
of requirements for the person in the world and another for the monk.
The difference between them is that one is married [and cares for the
vanities of the world] and the other is not: in all other respects
they will have to render the same account.” (Oppugn., III;
PG 47.372; Harkins (1977), p. 156.)

So
all of their criticisms and excuses solely stems from their own
personal, biased opinions rather than the truth that the Church
has always taught, since they obviously want to excuse themselves
and follow their own indulgent, worldly, selfish, and sensual
lifestyle rather than the safer, stricter, and narrower way.

St.
Anselm, Archbishop and Doctor of the Church: “If thou
wouldst be certain of being in the number of the elect, strive
to be one of the few, not of the many. And if thou wouldst
be quite sure of thy salvation, strive to be among the
fewest of the few; that is to say: Do not follow the great
majority of mankind, but follow those who enter upon the narrow way,
who renounce the world, who give themselves to prayer, and
who never relax their efforts by day or by night, that
they may attain everlasting blessedness.” (Fr. Martin Von
Cochem, The Four Last Things, p. 221)

Few
are saved from being judged to Hell for all eternity according to
God’s Holy and Infallible word in the Bible (Mt. 7:14).
That means that most people are damned and always have been. Yet most
people seem totally oblivious to this fact and ignores it, and
therefore choose to live their lives accordingly, as if nothing
really was required of them - just as in the days of Noah!

“And
as in the days of Noe, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage [and
living as bad as always as if nothing really was required of them in
order to be saved],
even till that day in which Noe entered into the ark, And they knew
not till the flood came, and took them all away [that
is, all the bad people, which was the whole world!]...”
(Matthew 24:37-39)

Look
at the world today, does anyone even care anything about penances,
mortifications, and prayer? No. That is also why most people choose
to ignore the Church’s constant teaching and tradition from the
beginning, and why they despise the harsher, stricter and narrower
way and advice of those few saints and Catholic writers who actually
have managed to save themselves from the eternal hellfire. For as we
have seen already, the saints and Councils of the Church are
unanimous in teaching that pro-sports and gambling are completely
evil and vain, and indeed, many more quotes from them on this issue
could be quoted in addition to the ones already quoted, if one just
looked for them.

It
is thus clear that this is not only the “opinions” of
mere men, but the teaching tradition of the Church and of the Bible,
as well as of the Popes, Fathers and Saints of the Catholic Church,
in addition to reason and logic – which all can understand –
that all proves that gambling and modern day pro-sports with all its
evils are completely forbidden to take part in, support and enjoy.
The unreasonableness and inherent evil of gambling and pro-sports
have thus been abundantly proven both from the teachings of the
Church, as well as from the teaching of the Divine and Natural Law.

ON
MUSIC

It
is just a fact that all kinds of popular music are mortally sinful
trash that is made by the Devil for the sole reason to drag your soul
to an eternal hell fire. There will be countless of impure
suggestions toward sin along with a rejection of any kind of morality
and decency. Popular music praises sin, and oftentimes speak against
God and morality. In short, it contains the same errors and sins that
worldly media have, such as: immodest clothing, adultery, blasphemy,
foul language and cursing, greed, fornication, make-up, vanity,
gloating, magic, occultism, acceptance of false religions,
idol-making of mortal humans etc… and are many times even
worse. Popular songs that doesn't praise the idolatry and worship of
man is hard to find today, and its even harder today to find popular
songs which does not praise or worship sin and worldliness as norm.
But worse still are the music-videos. A person cannot even listen to
these songs without grave sin, but how much more then does a person
sin when watching these sinful music-videos with half naked women/men
worshiping sin and the occult by deed and example? This is sadly what
many of your children are watching daily on the TV you have given
them! You must reject this evil music entirely and not accept this to
be played in your home.

Not
all music are bad or sinful, you can for example listen to religious
music, instrumental music, classical music or other music in line
with decency and morals. But the highest good is of course not to
listen to music at all. Giving up one’s own will is always the
highest good.

The
best music which one may listen to is of course religious music,
since it draws your mind and heart toward our Lord Jesus Christ,
Mary, the joy of Heaven, etc.

The
next best music which one may listen to is classical music and
instrumental music where no singing is involved, for this will not
affect your mind toward worldly things as worldly songs always
otherwise do.

The
worst kind of music one could listen to is music which sings about
worldly affairs. A person that listens much to music should avoid
listening to worldly songs, otherwise he or she will be drawn toward
these worldly things and affairs which are sung about. It is also
very necessary to test yourself if you are addicted to music in any
way, even totally acceptable music. This is easily done by going a
few days without music so that you can test if some withdrawal
symptoms effect you. All addictions of earthly things are evil and
effect the soul in a harmful way. Just because you don’t see or
understand the effect doesn’t mean that it isn’t
happening. Spiritual sloth and depression among other things are
common attributes of an addiction to media or music.

The
effects from the wrong kind of music, and secular songs are very
dangerous. There are numerous quotes from the secular world that can
be brought forth to prove this point.

"Music directly represents
the passions of states of the soul-gentleness, anger, courage,
temperance...if one listens to the wrong kind of music he will become
the wrong kind of person..." (Quote from Aristotle)

Brain specialists, Dr. Richard
Pellegrino declared that music has the uncanny power to "...trigger
a flood of human emotions and images that have the ability to
instantaneously produce very powerful changes in emotional states."
He went on to say: "Take it from a brain guy. In 25 years of
working with the brain, I still cannot affect a person's state of
mind the way that one simple song can."

Dr. Allan Bloom is quite correct
when he asserts that "popular music has one appeal only, a
barbaric appeal, to sexual desire... but sexual desire undeveloped
and untutored ... popular music gives children, on a silver plate,
with all the public authority of the entertainment industry,
everything their parents always used to tell them they had to wait
for until they grew up ... Young people know that rock and popular
music has the beat of sexual intercourse ... Never was there such an
art form directed so exclusively to children...(Every Catholic should
understand that masturbation is a clear mortal sin!) The words
implicitly and explicitly describe bodily acts that satisfy sexual
desire and treat them as its only natural and routine culmination for
children who do not yet have the slightest imagination of marriage or
family." (Dr. Allan Bloom, Closing of the American Mind, pp.
73-74).

Dr. Allan Bloom: "Today, a
very large proportion of young people between the ages of 10 and 20
live for music. It is their passion; nothing else excites them as it
does; they cannot take seriously anything alien to music. When they
are in school and with their families, they are longing to plug
themselves back into their music. Nothing surrounding them - school,
family, church - has anything to do with their musical world. At best
that ordinary life is neutral, but mostly it is an impediment,
drained of vital…"

Dr.
Paul King, medical director of the adolescent program at Charter
Lakeside Hospital, in Memphis, TN, says more than 80% of his teen
patients are there because of rock music. Dr. King says, "the
lyrics become a philosophy of life, a religion."

To
allow yourself or your children to have any kind of music like rock,
pop, rap, techno, trance, or any kind of music that is even remotely
similar to this is mortally sinful and really idiotic when presented
with these facts. Billions of souls are burning now as we speak in
the excruciating fire of hell since they refused to stop listening to
bad and sinful music! You will have your children eating your heart
out for all eternity in hell, because of the violent hatred they will
have against you, since you could have hindered them in their sin,
but refused to do so.

ON
BOOKS

"Bad books will abound
over the earth, and the spirits of darkness will everywhere spread
universal relaxation in everything concerning God's service...”
(Prophecy of La Salette, 19th of September 1846)

According
to Catholic Prophecy, bad books would dominate in the end, and we can
now see this happening right in front of our eyes with the worldly
school system and with worldly evil books like the Harry Potter
series which teaches kids that magic and the occult is something good
and praiseworthy to do or enjoy. Magic is an abominable mortal sin
which was rightly punished by execution when the Catholic Faith was
in control of Europe and South America. But now, blinded “Catholics”
not only tell their kids that being a magician or an occultist is
fine, they also buy these books to their kids. Think about it: If
someone made a game on how to make contact with demons and on top of
this sold this for your children to play with in stores, then every
Christian would be appalled, for every Christian know that making
contact with demonic spirits are possible. Yet, many parents let
their children read filth or watch movies which portray magic and
channeling with demonic spirits as normal and good.

Believe
it or not, the example used has now in fact become a reality because
of parents as yourself, whom says that bad is good and good is bad.
Satan has no limit, he would do even worse if the world or God would
allow him. Sadly, as time goes on however, worse things will become a
norm.

Ouija board a controversial
toy for tots

Toys R Us is selling Ouija
boards, promoting them as acceptable for children as young as eight
years old.

The pink edition of the Ouija
board is listed for girls eight-years-old and up while the regular
version is designated for all children eight and up. Stephen Phelan,
communications manager of Human Life International, checked the
website and reports that the findings are disturbing.

"It is just troubling that
these things are treated as casually as any other game, like Monopoly
or anything else on this Toys R Us site -- and I think it's something
Christians should be aware of and really not support," he
states.

"If you go to the comments
section on the Toys R Us [web]site, you'll read comments from people
who talk about being obsessed with it, talk about missing school for
it, talk about the spirits they spoke to on the other side and how
creepy it was," Phelan describes.

The communications manager adds
that the primary groups that deny the evils of the Ouija board are
the ones who deny the spirit world entirely. He goes on to say
Christians have a biblical mandate.

"We're supposed to deal
with the truth only," he notes. "We're supposed to have
nothing to do with dark spirits. We're not supposed to dabble in
anything that would compromise our souls, and that's exactly what
this does." The manufacturer of the product is Hasbro.

Lord
of the Rings is another famous book series which presents magic,
occultism, fairy tales and fables as something good and praiseworthy
but is in reality just another abomination before the Lord. Sadly,
many “Catholics” refuses to accept these facts and still
believes that Lord of the Rings is good or even Catholic. You can
fool yourself, but you cannot fool God!

“For
there shall be a time, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but,
according to their own desires, they will heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears: And
will indeed turn away their hearing from the truth, but will be
turned unto fables.”
(2 Timothy 4:3-4)

St.
Teresa even confessed that reading books which in themselves was not
evil, was still a beginning of great harm and lukewarmness on her
part. What then are one to say about evil media, evil video games and
sinful stinking books? A person cannot do these things without
becoming completely lukewarm and cold in the service of God exactly
as it also happened to the glorious St. Theresa, for those who always
seek after worldly things are in fact diminishing in the fervor of
God!

The following quote further
proving this point was taken from the Life of St. Teresa- “What
I shall now speak of was, I believe, the beginning of great harm to
me. I contracted a habit of reading books; and this little fault
which I observed was the beginning of lukewarmness in my good
desires, and the occasion of my falling away in other respects. I
thought there was no harm in it when I wasted many hours night and
day in so vain an occupation, even when I kept it a secret from my
father. So completely was I mastered by this passion, that I thought
I could never be happy without a new book.”

Doesn't
this sound familiar? Don't we all think as Teresa did, that we cannot
be happy without our daily media, our evil movies and series, our bad
video games or bad books? If the effect on this Saint was the start
of a great harm, what then will it be for you, when what you do in
comparison with her is infinitely more damaging and dangerous to your
soul? How utterly stupid and foolish is it not to spend one's time
reading bad worldly books, when one can spend time reading good
Catholic books about virtue that would edify soul, mind and body? You
will find innumerable good Catholic books if you just look for them,
one good place to start is here: http://www.catholic-saints.net/

“To
a spiritual life the reading of holy books is perhaps not less useful
than mental prayer. St. Bernard says reading instructs us at once in
prayer, and in the practice of virtue. Hence he concluded that
spiritual reading and prayer are the arms by which hell is conquered
and paradise won..." St. Alphonsus

Burn
every book, film or music album immediately which can be accounted to
be sinful, and repent, do penance, and confess of this evil. As you
would throw away poison in order that it may not be able to hurt
yourself or your child, do the same here. Think about pleasing God
first and not yourself or your child. Life is too short and Hell is
too long and painful to refuse to follow God’s law.

HOME-SCHOOLING

For
the Love of God, keep your children away from public school, (if that
option is available for you) and the company of other bad men. You
must do everything in your power to hinder the worldly school-system
from indoctrinating your children, even going so far as moving from
your country if your country forces public school on children. The
responsibility of an eternal soul that is greater than the universe
must not be lightly dealt with. If you can home-school your kids but
doesn't do it, then you really don't care for the spiritual well
being of your children. How can a Catholic parent with good
conscience let his kids go to public school where he know they will
be exposed to bad influences by other children, and brainwashed by
teachings such as evolution and sexual education? Most of the things
we learn in school is superfluous anyway and will never be needed. We
are bombarded with unnecessary teachings that will occupy much of our
time. This will lead souls to forget God and their own spiritual well
being! The school system before was very different from today, for
back then most states was Christian, and God and the Bible was not
banned from school.

Will
you allow your children to go to public school and go out with
worldly or ungodly friends? Then sadly, you will in fact lose them to
the world! God does not tell us as much as to be on guard against
demons as with men (Matthew 10:17), for men are oftentimes more
harmful to us then the devils are, for demons can be expelled by
invoking the most holy names of Jesus and Mary, but man on the other
hand cannot be expelled in the same way. And if a man tries to change
his life, he will be reviled, despised, and called a most miserable
fool, a good for nothing and a man of no education. Many weak souls
sadly turn back to the vomit from such and like reproaches out of
fear for the loss of human respect!

ON
MASTURBATION

Since
so many are coming out of mortal sin and are convincing themselves
that certain things are not sins, we must preach against those sins
with some specificity lest people perish in their ignorance.

Masturbation
is definitely a mortal sin.
There are about three places where St. Paul gives a list of some of
the main mortal sins which exclude people from Heaven. These lists
do not comprise every mortal sin, of course, but some of the main
ones. Well, it always puzzled many people exactly what is being
referred to in the following passages by the sin of “uncleanness”
and “effeminacy.” St. Paul says that these sins exclude
people from Heaven. Does “effeminacy” refer to acting
like a homosexual? What does “uncleanness” refer to?

Galatians
5:19-21- “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are
these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness,
revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have
also told you in time past, that they
which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

1
Corinthians 6:9-11- “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not
inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate,
nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous,
nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall
inherit the kingdom of God.
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified,
but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit
of our God.”

Ephesians
5:5-8- “For this ye know, that no fornicator, nor
unclean person,
nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath
any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things
cometh the wrath of God upon the children of unbelief. Be not ye
therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but
now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”

St.
Thomas Aquinas identifies masturbation as the biblical “uncleanness”
and “effeminacy.”

St.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa
Theologiae,
Pt. II-II, Q. 154, A. 11: “I answer that, As stated above
(A6,9) wherever there occurs a special kind of deformity whereby the
venereal act is rendered unbecoming, there is a determinate species
of lust. This may occur in two ways: First, through being contrary to
right reason, and this is common to all lustful vices; secondly,
because, in addition, it is contrary to the natural order of the
venereal act as becoming to the human race: and this is called "the
unnatural vice."
This may happen in several ways. First,
by
procuring pollution, without any copulation, for the sake of venereal
pleasure: this pertains to the sin of "uncleanness" which
some call "effeminacy."
Secondly, by copulation with a thing of undue species, and this is
called "bestiality." Thirdly, by copulation with an undue
sex, male with male, or female with female, as the Apostle states
(Romans 1:27): and this is called the "vice of sodomy."
Fourthly, by not observing the natural manner of copulation, either
as to undue means, or as to other monstrous and bestial manners of
copulation.”

Thus,
not only is masturbation a mortal sin, but it’s a mortal sin
which is identified in three different places in Scripture as one
which excludes from the Kingdom of God. It’s also classified
by St. Thomas as one of the sins against nature, for it corrupts the
order intended by God. That’s probably why it’s called
“effeminacy.” Though it’s not the same as the
abomination of Sodomy, it’s disordered and unnatural. We
believe that this sin – since it’s contrary to nature and
is classified as “effeminacy” and “the unnatural
vice” – is the cause of some people being given over to
unnatural lusts (homosexuality).

Therefore,
people who are committing this sin need to cease the evil immediately
and, when prepared, make a good confession. If people are really
struggling in this area, then they are not near the spiritual level
where they need to be. God’s grace is there for them; but they
need to pray more, pray better, avoid the occasions one of sin (bad
media being one of them) and exercise their wills. They need to
consistently pray the 15-decade Rosary (i.e. daily). They need to
put out more effort spiritually and then it shouldn’t be a
problem.

Our
Lady of Fatima: "The sins of the world are too great! The sins
which lead most souls to hell are sins of the flesh! Certain
fashions are going to be introduced which will offend Our Lord very
much. Those who serve God should not follow these fashions. The
Church has no fashions; Our Lord is always the same.
Many marriages are not good; they do not please Our Lord and are not
of God."

"Your
beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair
and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should
be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet
spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way
the holy women [and men] of the past who put their hope in God used
to make themselves beautiful." (1 Peter 3:3-6)

The
divine authority of God’s word demands that you always dress
humbly by not wearing tight clothes that show your breasts or your
behind or by showing too much skin that leads to temptation, and that
you also abstain from using any kind of makeup, jewelry, and
accessories (except for Rosaries or Brown Scapulars and the like
which is a very great way to protect oneself against the devil) in
order not to give a bad example or tempt your neighbor into carnal
lust and sin. For every single person you have tempted with your
immodest appearance will demand that God executes his righteous
vengeance on you since you tempted them into lustful thoughts!

Our
Lord Jesus Christ teaches in St. Bridget’s revelations, that
all who uses make-up or immodest clothing will be especially
tormented for every single person that have seen them in their entire
life unless they amend before the moment of their death, which is,
sad to say, impossible to know when it will be. That can be thousands
and thousands of people executing vengeance on you in hell for all
eternity! What a horror! That of course means you cannot go and bathe
in public since that would be even more immodest and immoral! The
world has indeed changed very much the last 100-200 years; yet, no
one should think that he could do these things just because they are
universally accepted. Do you want to go with the majority? Then,
sadly, Hell awaits you for all eternity!

"A woman shall not wear
anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's
garment; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD
your God." (Deut 22:5).

Women
should not dress or act like men, for this is an abomination in God's
eyes. God created the human race with two genders, intending each to
have his and her proper place in Creation. Men and women are not
meant to behave or dress the same manner. Part of the beauty of the
human race is found in the differences between men and women. We
each live within a larger society. We are each influenced by the
culture around us. Yet society and culture often teach us false
things, which lead us away from God. Most women (at least in Western
society and culture) dress and act very much like men. They seek the
same roles in society, the family, and the Church. They are following
a popular teaching of our culture today, that women and men are meant
to have the same roles, and especially that women are meant to take
up roles formerly held only or mainly by men. They are displaying
their adherence to this teaching by dressing like men. This teaching
of our culture is contrary to the teaching of Christ.

God
wants men and women to act and dress according to their gender and
the place God has given each one in Creation. Clothing and hairstyles
are expressions of one's thoughts, behavior, and attitude. Women are
not meant to behave like men, nor to have the same roles as men,
therefore they should not dress or groom themselves like men. And
vise versa.

"Think
not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have not
come to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you,
till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass
from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of
the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called
least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them
shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Mt 5:17-19).

Padre Pio used to refuse to hear the confession of women who were
wearing pants or an immodest dress.

PADRE PIO ON MODERN-DAY
FASHIONS

1
Timothy 2:9: “In like manner I wish women also in decent
apparel: adorning themselves with modesty and sobriety…”

Galatians
5:19: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are
fornication, uncleanness, immodesty…”

Padre
Pio had strong views on female fashions in dress. When the mini-skirt
craze started, no one dared to come to Padre Pio’s monastery
dressed in such an inappropriate fashion. Other women came not in
mini skirts, but in skirts that were shortish. Padre Pio got very
upset about this as well.

Padre
Pio tolerated neither tight skirts nor short or low-necked dresses.
He also forbade his spiritual daughters to wear transparent
stockings. He would dismiss women from the confessional, even before
they got inside, if he discerned their dress to be inappropriate.
Many mornings he drove one out after another – ending up
hearing only very few confessions. He also had a sign fastened to the
church door, declaring: “By Padre Pio’s explicit wish,
women must enter his confessional wearing skirts at least eight
inches (20 cm) below the knees. It is forbidden to borrow longer
dresses in church and to wear them for the confessional.”

Padre
Pio would rebuke some women with the words, “Go and get
dressed.” He would at times add: “Clowns!” He
wouldn’t give anyone a pass, whether they were people he met or
saw the first time, or long-time spiritual daughters. In many cases,
the skirts were many inches below the knees, but still weren’t
long enough for Padre Pio! Boys and men also had to wear long
trousers, if they didn’t want to be kicked out of the church.

The
immodest have in truth a special place in hell waiting for them since
they are the source of the most abominable sins of the flesh, as St.
Paul teaches us in First Corinthians,“Fly
fornication. Every sin that a man doth, is without the body; but he
that committeth fornication, sinneth against his own body!”
(1 Cor 18)

This
should of course be understood in the sense of literal fornication as
well as fornication in the mind which also is a mortal and damnable
sin! You will be held accountable for every eye that have seen you if
you use make-up or immodest clothing. That can account for thousands
and thousands of people executing vengeance on you in hell for all
eternity! Even if you don't use any make-up or dress vainly, God will
still judge you to hell if you take delight in vain thoughts or have
vain opinions of yourself. If a single thought can damn a person, how
much more should tempters with immodest clothing and makeup be
damned! This accounts for all kinds of makeup a person may use for
vanity. How abominable to want to be accepted for your appearance
rather than for your opinions! Oh, vanity, you shall soon rot in the
grave, but your soul shall burn for ever more in hell since you
thought to make your exterior beautiful, and, in so doing, perverted
your interior.

ON
BAD THOUGHTS

“But
I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her,
hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
(Matthew 5:28)

God
solemnly declares that he will judge our every thought, how much more
then will he judge our deeds? When we in our mind take delight in
sinful thoughts, God takes this as an act in the very same way as he
judges us as murderers if we hate our brother, or, as an adulterer if
we look at a woman with lust in our heart. What then will God judge
you to be when you in your heart love abominable things?

No
one can escape to have bad thoughts, for we are not yet angels but
mere men. We cannot escape these bad thoughts, but we can refuse to
enjoy them. Don't be surprised if you have all kinds of abominable
thoughts. Many people are unlearned and do not understand that this
is Satan tempting and giving them these thoughts. Sure, many bad
thoughts arise from various bad occasions you have put yourself in
during the course of the day or life, but still, if you do not think
about these thoughts willfully and it still assail you, then it must
be Satan tempting you!

Every
time you get bad thoughts against your own will, and you resist them,
you have not committed any sin.

When
you get bad thoughts against your will and you enjoy them a little,
and repents almost immediately, you have still committed sin.

If
you however, willfully delve in bad thoughts and enjoy them, you have
without a doubt committed mortal sin! A clearer demonstration of this
can be seen in St. Bridget's revelations:

The Son of God speaks to the
bride (St. Bridget): “"What are you worried and anxious about?"
She answered: "I am afflicted by various useless thoughts that I
cannot get rid of, and hearing about your terrible judgment upsets
me." The Son answered: "This is truly just. Earlier you
found pleasure in worldly desires against my will, but now different
thoughts are allowed to come to you against your will.

“But have a prudent fear of God,
and put great trust in me, your God, knowing for certain that when
your mind does not take pleasure in sinful thoughts but struggles
against them by detesting them, then they become a purgation and a
crown for the soul. But if you take pleasure in committing even a
slight sin, which you know to be a sin, and you do so trusting to
your own abstinence and presuming on grace, without doing penance and
reparation for it, know that it can become a mortal sin. Accordingly,
if some sinful pleasure of any kind comes into your mind, you should
right away think about where it is heading and repent.

“... God hates nothing so much as
when you know you have sinned but do not care, trusting to your other
meritorious actions, as if, because of them, God would put up with
your sin, as if he could not be glorified without you, or as if he
would let you do something evil with his permission, seeing all the
good deeds you have done, since, even if you did a hundred good deeds
for each wicked one, you still would not be able to pay God back for
his goodness and love. So, then, maintain a rational fear of God and,
even if you cannot prevent these thoughts, then at least bear them
patiently and use your will to struggle against them. You will not be
condemned because of their entering your head, unless you take
pleasure in them, since it is not within your power to prevent them.

“Again, maintain your fear of God
in order not to fall through pride, even though you do not consent to
the thoughts. Anyone who stands firm stands by the power of God
alone. Thus fear of God is like the gateway into heaven. Many there
are who have fallen headlong to their deaths, because they cast off
the fear of God and were then ashamed to make a confession before
men, although they had not been ashamed to sin before God. Therefore,
I shall refuse to absolve the sin of a person who has not cared
enough to ask my pardon for a small sin. In this manner, sins are
increased through habitual practice, and a venial sin that could have
been pardoned through contrition becomes a serious one through a
person's negligence and scorn, as you can deduce from the case of
this soul who has already been condemned.

“After having committed a venial and pardonable sin, he augmented it through habitual practice, trusting to his other good works, without thinking that I might take lesser sins into account. Caught in a net of habitual and inordinate pleasure, his soul neither corrected nor curbed his sinful intention, until the time for his sentencing stood at the gates and his final moment was approaching. This is why, as the end approached, his conscience was suddenly agitated and painfully afflicted because he was soon to die and he was afraid to lose the little, temporary good he had loved. Up until a sinner’s final moment God abides him, waiting to see if he is going to direct his free will away from his attachment to sin.

“However, if a soul’s will is not corrected, that soul is then confined by an end without end. What happens is that the devil, knowing that each person will be judged according to his conscience and intention, labors mightily at the end of life to distract the soul and turn it away from rectitude of intention, and God allows it to happen, since the soul refused to remain vigilant when it ought to have...” (The Revelations of St. Bridget of Sweden, Book 3, Chapter 19)

“There
is not a commandment of God which dancing does not cause men to
break! Mothers may indeed say: ‘Oh,
I keep an eye on their dress; you cannot keep guard over their
heart.’
Go,
you wicked parents, go down to Hell where the wrath of God awaits
you,
because of your conduct when you gave free scope to your children;
GO! It will not be long before they join you, seeing that you have
shown them the way so well!
Then you will see whether your pastor was right in forbidding those
Hellish amusements.”
(The
Curé D’Ars, St. Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney,
p. 146)

St.
Alphonsus (c. 1755): “In the year 1611, in the celebrated
sanctuary of Mary in Montevergine, it
happened that on the vigil of Pentecost the people who thronged there
profaned that feast with balls, excesses, and immodest conduct, when
a fire was suddenly discovered bursting forth from the house of
entertainment where
they were feasting, so that in less than an hour and a half it was
consumed, and more
than one thousand five hundred persons were killed. Five persons who
remained alive affirmed upon oath, that they had seen the Mother of
God herself, with two lighted torches set fire to the inn.”
(The
Glories of Mary,
p. 659.)

From
these quotes, everyone can see how evil dances are. Dancing causes
thousands of tempting and lascivious thoughts that leads countless of
lost souls to hell. To obstinately defend dances between boys and
girls or between men and women is absolutely despicable, and those
parents who allow their children to go to such events or those who
even at times force their children to such events, will experience
the most excruciating torment in hell unless they amend immediately.
To go to pubs which only sell alcohol or which propagate gambling or
other mortal sins is absolutely unacceptable and sinful. These places
were fervently preached against by St. John Vianney, and he called
them real hell holes and the cause of countless of mortal sins!

KEEP
HOLY THY SABBATH DAY OR SUNDAY

Since
many people who are reading this have not been taught these concepts
by modernist heretics, we must point out a few other things in this
regard: servile works are forbidden on Sundays; people should not do
laundry on Sundays; people should not do yard work (such as mowing
the lawn, etc.) on Sundays; people should not shop food on Sundays
unless they are starving etc... Exceptions to this would be work that
absolutely must be done. For example, making a fire in your home so
that you can be warm and survive is works that are completely
acceptable. If you are able to make your food for the whole family
before the Sunday, you must do so. One should not spend the Sunday
on making food for the family which may take several hours of the
day. You may of course (if you don't have any prepared food) take
time to make something small for you or the family which does not
require much of your time or take some food that you already have and
warm it up. You cannot cut wood on Sundays and you must restrict
yourself to only do things that are absolutely necessary for
survival. If you must shovel out your driveway after a heavy snowfall,
so that you can get to work, then you could do so on a Sunday. This, of
course, implies some preplanning, but no one should refuse to obey the
divine commandments since this action will undoubtedly lead to eternal
damnation. An obedient person will see the beauty of God forcing man to
rest from physical works.

To
do unnecessary works on Sundays is completely unacceptable
unless you starve and don't have the means necessary to support your
family. In the richer countries, even going so far as begging or
receiving social welfare checks every month is far better than to do
unnecessary work on Sundays, since this not only damns yourself, but
also damns your employer (unless ignorance excuse him). Your employer
will in fact be punished for every single person he has allowed or
forced (by threatening with layoffs) to work on Sundays. That can be
thousands and thousands of people attacking one man for all eternity!
What a horror!

People
should of course also try to arrange with their employers that
they don't have to work on Sundays. Likewise, other work that
should or must be done on Sundays, due to one's work, occupation
or state (such as tending the sick), can be done. If you
have exhausted all the options for not working on Sundays or for
receiving an income, for example: looking for another job or moving
to another place, or any other lawful means of receiving an income,
(like receiving social welfare checks for the support of the
necessities for you or your family, as long as this do not imply
that you have to compromise your faith or safety in any way,) then
you are not obligated to stay away from work and can safely work
on Sundays as long as it is your last option. Below are some
examples of acceptable reasons of why you can work on Sundays.

If you
cannot continue home-schooling your children for example, this would
be an acceptable reason with continuing to work on Sundays. Another
example would be if you had to move to a bad neighbourhood with much
drugs, violence or lasciviousness that would influence you or your
family in a sinful way, or if by quitting your work, you may be
forced to take another work that is sinful or immoral. This would
be another reason to continue to work on Sundays until you have
found another work where you are not forced to work on Sundays or
forced to put your family's spiritual wellbeing in jeopardy.

This
goes to say if the work you do is acceptable before God. If you sin
against God or your neighbour by the specific work you do, such as selling,
packing or stocking contraception, porn, bad newspapers with immodest images
or stories about sex or other sins etc, then you cannot go to that work even if
you starve or don't have the means to support yourself or your
family. In such cases you have to put your entire trust in God. You
cannot be the cause of your brothers mortal sins without yourself
being guilty of mortal sin!

“Therefore
I say to you: Be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat,
nor for your body, what you shall put on. The life is more than the
meat: and the body is more than the raiment... seek ye first the
kingdom of God and his justice: and all these things shall be added
unto you.” (Lk. 12:22-24, 27-28, 31)

However,
in the poorer countries where there is no chance of getting social
welfare or
income in any other way, it is totally acceptable to work on Sundays
as long as the person must do it in order to survive. Many people do
not operate under these conditions but work on Sundays in order to
have more money than they need to survive. Yes, many people have the
means necessary to stay away from work on Sundays, but only go to
work to receive more abundance in riches. This is a clear mortal sin!

The
following example on this can be seen clearer from St. Bridget's
revelations, in the book rightly entitled the Book of Questions. It
is composed of questions which Our Lord and Judge give wonderful
answers to:

“Third
question. Again the monk appeared on his ladder as before saying:
"Why should I not exalt myself over others, seeing that I am
rich?"

Answer to the third question.
The Judge answered: "As to why you must not take pride in
riches, I answer: The riches of the world only belong to you insofar
as you need them for food and clothing. The world was made for this:
that man, having sustenance for his body, might through work and
humility return to me, his God, whom he scorned in his disobedience
and neglected in his pride. However, if you claim that the temporal
goods belong to you, I assure you that you are in effect forcibly
usurping for yourself all that you possess beyond your needs. All
temporal goods ought to belong to the community and be equally
accessible to the needy out of charity.

You usurp for your own
superfluous possession things that should be given to others out of
compassion. However, many people do own much more than others but in
a rational way, and they distribute it in discreet fashion.
Therefore, in order not to be accused more severely at the judgment
because you received more than others, it is advisable for you not to
put yourself ahead of others by acting haughtily and hoarding
possessions. As pleasant as it is in the world to have more temporal
goods than others and to have them in abundance, it will likewise be
terrible and painful beyond measure at the judgment not to have
administered in reasonable fashion even licitly held goods."

“The
third commandment is that thou have mind and remember that thou
hallow and keep holy thy Sabbath day or Sunday. That is to say, that
thou shalt do no work nor operation on the Sunday or holy day, but
thou shalt rest from all worldly labour and intend to prayer, and to
serve God thy maker, which rested the seventh day of the works that
he made in the six days before, in which he made and ordained the
world. This commandment accomplish he that keep to his power the
peace of his conscience for to serve God more holily. Then this day
that the Jews called Sabbath is as much to say as rest. This
commandment may no man keep spiritually that is encumbered in his
conscience with deadly sin, such a conscience can not be in rest nor
in peace as long as he is in such a state. In the stead of the
Sabbath day which was straightly kept in the old law, holy church
hath established the Sunday in the new law. For our Lord arose from
death to life on the Sunday, and therefore we ought to keep it
holily, and be in rest from the works of the week before, and to
cease of the work of sin, and to intend to do spiritual works, and to
follow our Lord beseeching him of mercy and to thank him for his
benefits, for they that break the Sunday and the other solemn feasts
that be established to be hallowed in holy church, they sin deadly,
for they do directly against the commandment of God aforesaid and
holy church, but if it be for some necessity that holy church
admitteth and granteth. But they sin much more then, that employ the
Sunday and the feasts in sins, in lechery, in going to taverns in the
service time, in gluttony and drinking drunk, and in other sins,
outrages against God. For alas for sorrow I trow there is more sin
committed on the Sunday and holy days and feasts than in the other
work days. For then be they drunk, fight and slay, and be not
occupied virtuously in God’s service as they ought to do. And
as God command us to remember and have in mind to keep and hallow the
holy day, they that so do sin deadly and observe and keep not this
third commandment.” (From the Golden legend or the Lives of the
Saints, volume 1, page 122-123)

From
the above quote can be learned that man should not do the things on a
Sunday as he would do on the other days. The Sunday is intended for
God to be kept in holiness.
Thus, if the only difference for you on Sundays is that you keep away
from servile work, and do not give any of your time to God, what
profit is there for you? (It is nothing wrong with walking the dog on a
Sunday, or to have sporting activities with friends and family.)

God
commanded at least one day off for man so that man could rest from
the world and use it for his and his family's spiritual wellbeing, in praying,
reading, picnicking and doing other good works for the soul of oneself and
the family. You should thus spend the Sunday in abstaining from your own
will, such as watching the tv, playing games, listening to music or the
radio, etc, and instead strive to know God in solitude, prayer and meditation.

SMOKING
AND DRUGS

We
don’t know if smoking in very small amounts once in a while is
a sin. But we believe that smoking habitually or regularly is a sin,
and it definitely cuts out graces from people’s lives. We don’t
see how those who smoke habitually, for example throughout the day,
would be any different from people who eat candy all day and thus try
to constantly gratify themselves in that way. This is not even to get
into the issue that we know it’s horrible for health and leads
to death. If you are smoking, you are giving a horrible example to
people, tempting them to start smoking which is highly addictive and
lethal. Smoking is so addictive that medical scientists have compared
the addiction to Heroin addiction. Most people who get addicted to
cigarettes will never be able to stop and will be life long slaves
under a most filthy, evil and grace diminishing habit.

The
same can be said of all addictive substances that you don’t need to
survive, such as: coffee, candy, chips, cookies, soda, good meats
etc... If you can’t abstain from these substances for even a few
days, then you are addicted to them and need to learn to abstain from
them. Good days for learning to abstain from one’s own desires are
Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Fridays has always been a day of
abstinence in the Catholic Church – since Our Lord suffered and
died on that day – which means that one cannot eat anything
containing meat under pain of mortal sin (there is no obligation of fast
or abstinence on a holy day of obligation such as Christmas, even if
it falls on a Friday). One should of course also abstain from other
superfluous substances. While some substances may appear to be
harmless, grace is highly diminished in people who always uses things
which are superfluous.

St. Francis of Assisi was well aware of the truth that seeking pleasure corrupts the soul. St. Francis even used to put ashes in his food in order to make it taste bad since he understood that the five senses and the search to gratify them made the soul weaker. Someone might ask: “Does that mean that eating good things is a sin?” The answer is of course that eating good things in itself is no sin. However, one should definitely try to avoid all things that are tasty and addictive, such as superfluous and tasty foods, meats, beverages, cigarettes, candy, chips, cakes, spices, sauces, dressings, etc. The reason why man should do his utmost to avoid pleasurable things is because the five senses of man, after the fall, was corrupted by self-love and self-gratification. That’s precisely why countless saints have refused to eat food that taste good. However, no one should get the idea that it’s sinful to eat tasty foods, but understand that people who always want to eat these foods will fall into sin, for gluttony and lack of moderation is certainly sinful.

Everyone of course knows that the consuming of mind altering drugs such as smoking marijuana or taking LSD or ecstasy is a mortal sin, just like getting drunk is a mortal sin, because when “a man willingly and knowingly deprives himself of the use of reason, whereby he performs virtuous deeds and avoids sin... he sins mortally by running the risk of falling into sin. For [Saint] Ambrose says (De Patriarch. [De Abraham i.]): "We learn that we should shun drunkenness, which prevents us from avoiding grievous sins. For the things we avoid when sober, we unknowingly [or knowingly] commit through drunkenness." Therefore drunkenness, properly speaking, is a mortal sin.” (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part, Question 150, Article 2. Whether drunkenness is a mortal sin?)

A person who uses a drug that makes him intoxicated needs an absolutely necessary reason (such as a grave illness) to excuse his usage of the drug from being a sin, and when he does not have such an absolutely necessary excuse to excuse his drug usage, he commits the sin of drug abuse. A sick person is allowed by God’s permission to take drugs in order to lessen his pain. But when this sick person uses more drugs than he needs in order to get intoxicated and for mere pleasure, or continues to use the drug after he gets well, he commits the sin of drug abuse. This is a perfect example of those who use drugs for the mere sake of pleasure. They are gluttonous or overindulgent in their sensual appetite, and are thus sinning against their reason and the Natural Law. For “the sin of lust [or pleasure seeking] consists in seeking venereal pleasure not in accordance with right reason...” and “lust there signifies any kind of excess.” (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part, Q. 154, Art. 1)

St. Alphonsus Liguori, one of the most well known doctors of the Church, in his masterpiece “The True Spouse of Jesus Christ”, shows us the inherent evil of acting in accordance to our sensual desires: “Pope Innocent XI Odescalchi has condemned the proposition which asserts that it is not a sin to eat or to drink from the sole motive of satisfying the palate. However, it is not a fault to feel pleasure in eating: for it is, generally speaking, impossible to eat without experiencing the delight which food naturally produces. But it is a defect to eat, like beasts, through the sole motive of sensual gratification, and without any reasonable object. Hence, the most delicious meats may be eaten without sin, if the motive be good and worthy of a rational creature; and, in taking the coarsest food through attachment to pleasure, there may be a fault.” (The True Spouse of Jesus Christ, p. 282)

ON FALSE JUDGMENTS AND SLANDER

Since
almost the whole world today have fallen into this mortal vice of
judging falsely, it is necessary to speak briefly about it in order
to make people aware of that evil thoughts, judgments or conclusions
about other people – thinking negatively, evil or bad about
them, calumniating their intentions, character or meanings with
slight or no proof – is a mortal sin.

This
means that you are not to presume why or what other people are or
what their intentions or motives are when they do or say certain
things with slight or no proof other than your own evil
presumptions. To do otherwise is to slander them and think evil
of them. Evil men usually judge others by themselves and hence
conclude that others must be evil as themselves and therefore, they
do not think good of others or try to excuse them first since they
are evil and would have, or think they could have, done evil in the
same or a similar situation.

However,
and the sad thing is, the very same people who so easily judge and
condemn their neighbor at the slightest apprehension of evil, would
many times instantly have tried to excuse their own friend, child,
family, or wife in the same situation, but whenever their neighbor is
involved, or someone they don’t like or know about, then this
just and right thought process that they would have had towards their
own family members or friend is instantly abandoned. So while many of
them want to excuse their own loved ones as much as possible and not
think evil of them without some proof or reason – however much
their actions or deeds seem to have been evil at first – they
cannot stand and, in most cases never have, the same just thought
process towards other people they don’t know about or like.
This is clearly an injustice!

For
example, some people presume that just because someone is homeless,
this means he must be a bum, a thief, a lazy person or a drug and
alcohol addict without even considering the circumstances that led
him to become homeless. Others still imagine that one can conclude
calumniating, slanderous or evil things about others just because
they don’t speak about a specific subject or are silent about
it or because they behave in a certain way. In truth, what would you
think if people always judged you evilly based on what you did or did
not say or because of how you behaved in certain citations?

In
contrast to this, others still presume to conclude that just because
someone spoke favorably of some subject, this means he himself must
do this or be guilty of it, such as practicing contraception,
performing abortions, or be a homosexual! No, just because someone
spoke favorably of homosexuality, abortion or contraception, doesn’t
mean he or she himself is a practicing homosexual, use contraception,
or perform abortions. That is common sense. Sure, those people who
speak favorably of these evil things are themselves evil and damned
people and heretics against the natural law, but just because they
are evil, doesn’t mean one can leave of justice and presume
unjustified, additional evils about them concerning what they do or
do not do.

So
many people fall into these deadly errors all the time today. To
presume things about others have sadly become the norm. That is
mostly due to the media, magazines and the internet where one is
exposed to this evil behavior or attitude almost daily by evil,
judgmental, presumptuous and prideful people that think they can
presume things about other people’s intentions without having
to render a strict account of every word, thought or deed that they
have ever said or thought of their neighbor – whether it be
true or false. “For with what judgment you judge, you shall
be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to
you again.” (Matthew 7:2)

Innumerable
more examples could be given. St. John Vianney in the Sermons
of the Cure of Ars,
explains this vice further and gives some additional examples
demonstrating the evil of Rash Judgments:

ST.
NICHOLAS AND THE THREE GIRLS

Tell
me, now, my brethren, on what foundation are rash judgments and
sentences based? Alas! They are based upon very slight evidence only,
and most often upon what “someone said.” But perhaps
you are going to tell me that you have seen and heard this and that.
Unfortunately, you could be mistaken in the testimony of both your
sight and hearing, as you are going to see.... Here is an example
which will show you, better than anything else can, how easily we can
be mistaken and how we are nearly always wrong.

What
would you have said, my dear brethren, if you had been living during
the time of St. Nicholas and you had seen him coming in the middle of
the night, walking around the house of three young girls, watching
carefully and taking good care that no one saw him. Just look at that
bishop, you would have thought at once, degrading and dishonouring
his calling; he is a dreadful hypocrite. He seems to be a saint when
he is in church, and look at him now, in the middle of the night, at
the door of three girls who do not have a very good reputation! And
yet, my dear brethren, this bishop, who would certainly have been
condemned by you, was indeed a very great saint and most dear to God.
What he was doing was the best deed in the world. In order to spare
these young persons the shame of begging, he came in the night and
threw money in to them through their window because he feared that it
was poverty which had made them abandon themselves to sin.

This
should teach us never to judge the actions of our neighbour without
having reflected very well beforehand. … Yes indeed, my
brethren, I have seen people making wrong judgments about the
intentions of their neighbour when I have known perfectly well that
these intentions were good [Vianney was a confessor and heard
peoples confessions]. I have tried in vain to make them understand,
but it was no good. Oh! Cursed pride, what evil you do and how many
souls do you lead to Hell!

YOUR
HEART IS BUT A MASS OF PRIDE

You
will tell me, perhaps, that you never judge people except by what you
see or after you have actually heard or been the witness of some
action: “I saw him doing this action, so I am sure. I heard
what he said with my own ears. After that, I could not be mistaken.”

But
I shall reply by telling you to begin by entering into your own
heart, which is but a mass of pride wherein everything is dried up.
You will find yourself infinitely more guilty than the person whom
you are so boldly judging, and you have plenty of room for fear, lest
one day you will see him going to Heaven while you are being dragged
down to Hell by the demons. “Oh, unfortunate pride,” says
St. Augustine to us, “you dare to judge your brother on the
slightest appearance of evil, and how do you know that he has not
repented of his fault and that he is not numbered among God’s
friends? Take care rather that he does not take the place which your
pride is putting you in great danger of losing.”

Yes,
my dear brethren, all these rash judgments and all these
interpretations come only from a person who has a secret pride,
who does not know himself, and who dares to wish to know the interior
life of his neighbour, something which is known to God alone. If
only, my dear children, we were able to arrive at the stage of
eradicating this first of the capital sins from our hearts [envy and
pride], our neighbour would never do any wrong according to us.
We should never amuse ourselves by examining his conduct. We should
be content to do nothing else save weep for our own sins and work as
hard as we could to correct them.

THE
TONGUE OF THE SCANDAL-MONGER

Anyone
who is unfortunate enough to come under the tongue of the
scandalmonger is like a grain of corn under the grinding stone in a
mill: he is torn, crushed, entirely destroyed. People like these
will fasten onto you intentions that you never had; they will
poison all your actions and your movements. If you have enough piety
to wish to fulfill your religious duties, you are only a hypocrite,
an angel in the church and a demon in the house. If you do any good
or charitable works, they will think that this is just through pride
and so that you may gain notice. If you are not worldly and not
interested in worldly affairs, you are said to be odd and singular
and to have no spirit. If you look after your own affairs carefully,
you are nothing but a miser. Let me go further, my dear brethren, and
say that the tongue of the scandalmonger is like the worm which
gnaws at the good fruit – that is, the best actions that people
do – and tries to turn all to bad account. The tongue of
the scandalmonger is a grub which taints the most beautiful of the
flowers and upon them leaves behind it the disgusting trace of is own
slime.

THE
EVIL TONGUES

There
are some who, through envy, for that is what it amounts to, belittle
and slander others, especially those in the same business or
profession as their own, in order to draw business to themselves.
They will say such evil things as “their merchandise is
worthless” or “they cheat”; that they have nothing
at home and that it would be impossible to give goods away at such a
price; that there have been many complaints about these goods; that
they will give no value or wear or whatever it is, or even that it is
short weight, or not the right length, and so on.

A
workman will say that another man is not a good worker, that he is
always changing his job, that people are not satisfied with him, or
that he does no work, that he only puts in his time, or perhaps that
he does not know how to work. “What I was telling you there,”
they will then add, “it would be better to say nothing about
it. He might lose by it, you know.” “Is that so?”
you answer. “It would have been better if you yourself had
said nothing. That would have been the thing to do.”

A
farmer will observe that his neighbour’s property is doing
better than his own. This makes him very angry so he will speak evil
of him. There are others who slander their neighbours from
motives of vengeance. If you do or say something to help someone,
even through reasons of duty or of charity, they will then look for
opportunities to decry you, to think up things which will harm you,
in order to revenge themselves. If their neighbour is well spoken
of, they will be very annoyed and will tell you: “He is just
like everyone else. He has his own faults. He has done this, he has
said that. You didn’t know that? Ah, that is because you have
never had anything to do with him.”

A
great many people slander others because of pride. They think that by
depreciating others they will increase their own worth. They want to
make the most of their own alleged good qualities. Everything they
say and do will be good, and everything that others say and do will
be wrong. But the great bulk of malicious talk is done by people
who are simply irresponsible, who have an itch to chatter about
others without feeling any need to discover whether what they are
saying is true or false. They just have to talk. Yet, although
these latter are less guilty than the others – that is to say,
than those who slander and backbite through hatred or envy or revenge
– yet they are not free from sin. Whatever the motive that
prompts them, they should not sully the reputation of their
neighbour. … perhaps, my friend, you are mistaken [in your
judgments], and although everything may have been exactly as you have
said, perhaps he is already in Heaven, perhaps God has pardoned him.
But, in the meantime, where is your charity?

St.
Francis de Sales in his Introduction
to the Devout Life,
Part III, Chapter 28, explains the vice of Hasty Judgments:

“Judge
not, and ye shall not be judged,” said the Saviour of our
souls; “condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned:” and
the Apostle Saint Paul, “Judge nothing before the time, until
the Lord come, Who both will bring to light the hidden things of
darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.”
Of a truth, hasty judgments are most displeasing to God, and men’s
judgments are hasty, because we are not judges one of another, and by
judging we usurp our Lord’s own office. Man’s
judgment is hasty, because the chief malice of sin lies in the
intention and counsel of the heart, which is shrouded in darkness to
us. Moreover, man’s
judgments are hasty, because each one has enough to do in judging
himself, without undertaking to judge his neighbour. If we would not
be judged, it behoves us alike not to judge others, and to judge
ourselves. Our Lord forbids the one, His Apostle enjoins the other,
saying, “If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”
But alas! for the most part we precisely reverse these precepts,
judging our neighbour, which is forbidden on all sides, while rarely
judging ourselves, as we are told to do.We must proceed to
rectify rash judgments, according to their cause. Some hearts there
are so bitter and harsh by nature, that everything turns bitter under
their touch; men who, in the Prophet’s words, “turn
judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth.”
Such as these greatly need to be dealt with by some wise spiritual
physician, for this bitterness being natural to them, it is hard to
conquer; and… it is very dangerous, because it gives rise to
and fosters rash judgments and slander within the heart. Others
there are who are guilty of rash judgments less out of a bitter
spirit than from pride, supposing to exalt their own credit by
disparaging that of others. These are self-sufficient, presumptuous
people, who stand so high in their own conceit that they despise all
else as mean and worthless.
It was the foolish Pharisee who said, “I am not as other men
are.” Others, again, have not quite such overt pride, but
rather a lurking little satisfaction in beholding what is wrong in
others, in order to appreciate more fully what they believe to be
their own superiority.
This satisfaction is so well concealed, so nearly imperceptible, that
it requires a clear sight to discover it, and those who experience it
need that it be pointed out to them. Some
there are who seek to excuse and justify themselves to their own
conscience, by assuming readily that others are guilty of the same
faults, or as great ones, vainly imagining that the sin becomes less
culpable when shared by many.
Others, again, give way to rash judgments merely because they take
pleasure in a philosophic analysis and dissection of their
neighbours’ characters; and
if by ill luck they chance now and then to be right, their
presumption and love of criticism strengthens almost incurably.

Then
there are people whose judgment is solely formed by inclination; who
always think well of those they like, and ill of those they dislike.
To this, however, there is one rare exception, which nevertheless we
do sometimes meet, when an excessive love provokes a false judgment
concerning its object; the hideous result of a diseased, faulty,
restless affection, which is in fact jealousy; an evil passion
capable, as everybody knows, of condemning others of perfidy and
adultery upon the most trivial and fanciful ground. In like manner,
fear, ambition, and other moral infirmities often tend largely to
produce suspicion and rash judgments.

What
remedy can we apply? They who drink the juice of the Ethiopian herb
Ophiusa imagine that they see serpents and horrors everywhere; and
those who drink deep of pride, envy, ambition, hatred, will see harm
and shame in every one they look upon.
The first can only be cured by drinking palm wine, and so I say of
these latter,—Drink freely of the sacred wine of love, and it
will cure you of the evil tempers which lead you to these perverse
judgments. So far from
seeking out that which is evil, Love dreads meeting with it, and when
such meeting is unavoidable, she shuts her eyes at the first symptom,
and then in her holy simplicity she questions whether it were not
merely a fantastic shadow which crossed her path rather than sin
itself. Or if Love is forced to recognise the fact, she turns aside
hastily, and strives to forget what she has seen.
Of a truth, Love is the great healer of all ills, and of this above
the rest. Everything looks yellow to a man that has the jaundice; and
it is said that the only cure is through the soles of the feet. Most
assuredly the sin of rash judgments is a spiritual jaundice, which
makes everything look amiss to those who have it; and he who would be
cured of this malady must not be content with applying remedies to
his eyes or his intellect, he must attack it through the affections,
which are as the soul’s feet. If your affections are warm and
tender, your judgment will not be harsh; if they are loving, your
judgment will be the same. Holy Scripture offers us three striking
illustrations. Isaac,
when in the Land of Gerar, gave out that Rebecca was his sister, but
when Abimelech saw their familiarity, he at once concluded that she
was his wife. A malicious mind would rather have supposed that there
was some unlawful connection between them, but Abimelech took the
most charitable view of the case that was possible. And so ought we
always to judge our neighbour as charitably as may be; and if his
actions are many-sided, we should accept the best.
Again, when Saint Joseph found that the Blessed Virgin was with
child, knowing her to be pure and holy, he could not believe that
there was any sin in her, and he left all judgment to God, although
there was strong presumptive evidence on which to condemn her. And
the Holy Spirit speaks of Saint Joseph as “a just man.”
When a just man cannot see any excuse for what is done by a person in
whose general worth he believes, he still refrains from judging him,
and leaves all to God’s Judgment. Again, our Crucified Saviour,
while He could not wholly ignore the sin of those who Crucified Him,
yet made what excuse He might for them, pleading their ignorance. And
so when we cannot find any excuse for sin, let us at least claim what
compassion we may for it, and impute it to the least damaging motives
we can find, as ignorance or infirmity.

…
[Many times] We do not necessarily judge because we see or are
conscious of something wrong. Rash judgment always presupposes
something that is not clear, in spite of which we condemn another. It
is not wrong to have doubts concerning a neighbour, but we ought
to be very watchful lest even our doubts or suspicions be rash and
hasty. A malicious person seeing Jacob kiss Rachel at the
well-side, or Rebecca accepting jewels from Eleazer, a stranger,
might have suspected them of levity, though falsely and unreasonably.
If an action is in itself indifferent, it is a rash suspicion to
imagine that it means evil, unless there is strong circumstantial
evidence to prove such to be the case. And it is a rash judgment when
we draw condemnatory inferences from an action which may be
blameless.Those who keep careful watch over their
conscience are not often liable to form rash judgments, for just
as when the clouds lower the bees make for the shelter of their hive,
so really good people shrink back into themselves, and refuse to
be mixed up with the clouds and fogs of their neighbour’s
questionable doings, and rather than meddle with others, they
consecrate their energies on their own improvement and good
resolutions.No surer sign of an unprofitable life than
when people give way to censoriousness and inquisitiveness into the
lives of other men. Of course exception must be made as to those
who are responsible for others, whether in family or public life;—to
all such it becomes a matter of conscience to watch over the conduct
of their fellows. Let them fulfill their duty lovingly, and let them
also give heed to restrain themselves within the bounds of that
duty.”

“I
am not like the others!” That, my dear brethren, is the usual
tone of false virtue and the attitude of those proud people who,
always quite satisfied with themselves, are at all times ready to
censure and to criticize the conduct of others. That, too, is the
attitude of the rich, who look upon the poor as if they were of a
different race or nature from them and who behave towards them
accordingly.

Let
us go one better, my dear brethren, and admit that it is the attitude
of most of the world. There are very few people, even in the
lowliest conditions, who do not have a good opinion of themselves.
They regard themselves as far superior to their equals, and their
detestable pride urges them to believe that they are indeed worth a
great deal more than most other people. From this I conclude that
pride is the source of all the vices and the cause of all the evils
which have occurred, and which are still to come, in the course of
the centuries. We carry our blindness so far that often we even
glorify ourselves on account of things which really ought to cover us
with confusion. Some derive a great deal of pride because they
believe that they have more intelligence than others; others because
they have a few more inches of land or some money, when in fact they
should be in dread of the formidable account which God will demand of
them one day. Oh, my dear brethren, if only some of them felt the
need to say the prayer that St. Augustine addressed to God: “My
God, teach me to know myself for what I am and I shall have no need
of anything else to cover me with confusion and scorn for myself.”

We
could say that this sin is found everywhere, that it accompanies man
in what he does and says. It is like a kind of seasoning or
flavouring which can be tasted in every portion of a dish. Listen to
me for a moment and you can see this for yourselves. Our Lord gives
us an example in the Gospel when He tells us of the Pharisee who went
up into the temple to pray and, standing up where all could see him,
said in a loud voice: “O God, I give thee thanks that I am not
as the rest of men steeped in sin. I spend my life doing good and
pleasing you.” Herein consists the very nature of the proud
man: instead of thanking God for condescending to make use of him
for a good purpose and for giving him grace, he looks upon whatever
good he does as something which comes from himself, not from God.
Let us go into a few details and you will see that there are
hardly any exceptions to this general sin of pride.
The old and the young, the rich and the poor, all suffer from it.
Each and everyone congratulates himself and flatters himself because
of what he is or of what he does – or rather because of what he
is not and what he does not.
Everyone applauds himself and loves also to be applauded. Everyone
rushes to solicit the praises of the rest of the world, and everyone
strives to draw them to himself. In this way are the lives of the
great majority of people passed.

The
door by which pride enters with the greatest ease and strength is the
door of wealth. Just as soon as someone improves his possessions and
his sources of wealth, you will observe him change his mode of life.
He will act as Jesus Christ told us the Pharisees liked to act: these
people love to be called master and to have people saluting them.
They like the first places. They begin to appear in better clothes.
They leave behind their air of simplicity. … Take a young
woman who has a shapely figure or who, at any rate, thinks she has.
You see her walking along, picking her steps, full of affectation,
with a pride which seems colossal enough to reach the clouds! If she
has plenty of clothes, she will leave her wardrobe open [or be sure
to display them to others in some way] so that they can be seen [and
this vice applies to any material possessions, deeds, or even body
parts that people are sure to display to others through vanity and
pride].

People
take pride in their animals and in their households. They take pride
in knowing how to go to Confession properly, in saying their prayers,
in behaving modestly and decorously in the church. A mother takes
pride from her children. You will hear a landowner whose fields are
in better condition than those of his neighbours criticising these
and applauding his own superior knowledge. Or it may be a young
man with a watch, or perhaps only the chain, and a couple of coins in
his pocket, and you will hear him saying, “I did not know that
it was so late,” so that people will see him looking at the
watch or will know that he has one. … No, my dear
brethren, there is nothing that is quite as ridiculous or stupid as
to be forever talking about what we have or what we do. Just listen
to the father of a family when his children are of an age to get
married; in all the places and gatherings where he is to be found you
will hear him saying: “I have so many thousand francs ready; my
business will give me so many thousands, etc.” But if later he
is asked for a few coppers for the poor, he has nothing.

If
a tailor or a dressmaker has made a success of a coat or a frock and
someone seeing the wearer pass says, “That looks very well. I
wonder who made it?” they will make very sure to observe:
“Oh, I made that.” Why? So that everyone may know how
skilful they are. But if the garment had not been such a success,
they would, of course, take good care to say nothing, for fear of
being humiliated. … And I will add this to what I have just
said. This sin is even more to be feared in people who put on a
good show of piety and religion.

A
PUBLIC PLAGUE

As
you know my dear brethren, we are bound as fellow creatures to have
human sympathy and feelings for one another. Yet one envious person
would like, if he possibly could, to destroy everything good and
profitable belonging to his neighbour. You know, too, that as
Christians we must have boundless charity for our fellow men. But the
envious person is far removed indeed from such virtues. He would be
happy to see his fellow man ruin himself. Every mark of God’s
generosity towards his neighbour is like a knife thrust that pierces
his heart and causes him to die in secret. Since we are all members
of the same Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head, we should so
strive that unity, charity, love, and zeal can be seen in one and
all. To make us all happy, we should rejoice, as St. Paul tells, in
the happiness of our fellow men and mourn with those who have cares
or troubles. But, very far from experiencing such feelings, the
envious are forever uttering scandals and calumnies against their
neighbours. It appears to them that in this way they can do something
to assuage and sweeten their vexation.

… We
can see that this sin makes its first appearance among children. You
will notice the petty jealousies they will feel against one another
if they observe any preferences on the part of the parents. A
young man would like to be the only one considered to have
intelligence, or learning, or a good character. A girl would like to
be the only one who is loved, the only one well dressed, the only one
sought after; if others are more popular than she, you will see her
fretting and upsetting herself, even weeping, perhaps, instead of
thanking God for being neglected by creatures so that she may be
attached to Him alone. What a blind passion envy is, my dear
brethren! Who could hope to understand it?… This is surely a
cursed sin which puts a barrier between brothers and sisters, too.
The very moment that a father or a mother gives more to one member
of the family than the others, you will see the birth of this jealous
hatred against the parent or against the favoured brother or sister –
a hatred which may last for years, and sometimes even for a lifetime.
There are children who keep a watchful eye upon their parents just to
insure that they will not give any sort of gift or privilege to one
member of the family. If this should occur in spite of them, there is
nothing bad enough that they will not say.

Unfortunately,
this vice can be noted even among those in whom it should never be
encountered – that is to say, among those who profess to
practice their religion. They will take note of how many times such a
person remains to go to Confession or of how So-and-So kneels or sits
when she is saying her prayers. They will talk of these things and
criticise the people concerned, for they think that such prayers or
good works are done only so that they may be seen, or in other words,
that they are purely an affectation. You may tire yourself out
telling them that their neighbour’s actions concern him alone.
They are irritated and offended if the conduct of others is thought
to be superior to their own....

Take
another example. Here is a merchant who wants to have all the
business for himself and to leave nothing at all for anyone else. If
someone leaves his store to go elsewhere, he will do his best to say
all the evil he can, either about the rival businessman himself or
else about the quality of what he sells. He will take all possible
means to ruin his rival’s reputation, saying that the other’s
goods are not of the same quality as his own or that the other man
gives short weight. You will notice, too, than an envious man like
this has a diabolical trick to add to all this: “It would not
do,” he will tell you, “for you to say this to anyone
else; it might do harm and that would upset me very much. I am only
telling you because I would not like to see you being cheated.”

A
workman may discover that someone else is now going to work in a
house where previously he was always employed. This angers him
greatly, and he will do everything in his power to run down this
“interloper” so that he will not be employed there after
all. Look at the father of a family and see how angry he becomes if
his next-door neighbour prospers more than he or if the neighbour’s
land produces more. Look at a mother: she would like it if people
spoke well of no children except hers. If anyone praises the children
of some other family to her and does not say something good of hers,
she will reply, “They are not perfect,” and she will
become quite upset. How foolish you are, poor mother! The praise
given to others will take nothing from your children. … You
will see this even among the poor. If some kindly person gives a
little bit extra to one of them, they will make sure to speak ill of
him to their benefactor in the hope of preventing him from benefiting
on any further occasion. Dear Lord, what a detestable vice this is!
It attacks all that is good, spiritual as well as temporal.

We
have already said that this vice indicates a mean and petty spirit.
That is so true that no one will admit to feeling envy, or at least
no one wants to believe that he has been attacked by it. People will
employ a hundred and one devices to conceal their envy from others.
If someone speaks well of another in our presence, we keep silence:
we are upset and annoyed. If we must say something, we do so in the
coldest and most unenthusiastic fashion. No, my dear children, there
is not a particle of charity in the envious heart. St. Paul has told
us that we must rejoice in the good which befalls our neighbour. Joy,
my dear brethren, is what Christian charity should inspire in us for
one another. But the sentiments of the envious are vastly different.

I
do not believe that there is a more ugly and dangerous sin than envy
because it is hidden and is often covered by the attractive mantle of
virtue or of friendship. Let us go further and compare it to a lion
which we thought was muzzled, to a serpent covered by a handful of
leaves which will bite us without our noticing it. Envy is a public
plague which spares no one. We are leading ourselves to Hell without
realising it.

But
how are we then to cure ourselves of this vice if we do not think we
are guilty of it? I am quite certain that of the thousands of envious
souls honestly examining their consciences, there would not be one
ready to believe himself belonging to that company. It is the least
recognised of sins.

Some
people are so profoundly ignorant that they do not recognise a
quarter of their ordinary sins. And since the sin of envy is more
difficult to know, it is not surprising that so few confess it and
correct it. Because they are not guilty of the big public sins
committed by coarse and brutalised people, they think that the
sins of envy are only little defects in charity, when, in fact, for
the most part, these are serious and deadly sins which they are
harbouring and tending in their hearts, often without fully
recognising them. “But,” you may be thinking in your
own minds, “if I really recognised them, I would do my best to
correct them.”

If
you want to be able to recognise them, my dear brethren, you must ask
the Holy Ghost for His light. He alone will give you this grace.
No one could, with impunity, point out these sins to you; you would
not wish to agree nor to accept them; you would always find something
which would convince you that you had made no mistake in thinking and
acting in the way you did. Do you know yet what will help to make you
know the state of your soul and to uncover this evil sin hidden in
the secret recesses of your heart? It is humility. Just as pride will
hide it from you, so will humility reveal it to you.

Some
become proud and insolent, either by riding a good horse, wearing a
feather in their hat, or by being dressed in a fine suit of clothes;
but who does not see the folly of this? for if there be any glory in
such things, the glory belongs to the horse, the bird, and the
tailor; and what a meanness of heart must it be, to borrow esteem
from a horse, from a feather, or some ridiculous new fashion! Others
value themselves for a well-trimmed beard, for curled locks, or soft
hands; or because they can dance, sing, or play; but are not
these effeminate men, who seek to raise their reputation by so
frivolous and foolish things? Others, for a little learning, would
be honored and respected by the whole world, as if everyone ought to
become their pupil, and account them his masters. These are called
pedants. Others strut like peacocks, contemplating their
beauty and think themselves admired by every one. All this is
extremely vain, foolish, and impertinent; and the glory which is
raised on so weak foundations is justly esteemed vain and frivolous.
… Honors, rank, and dignities, are like saffron, which thrives
best, and grows most plentifully, when trodden under foot. It is no
honor to be beautiful when a man prizes himself for it: beauty, to
have a good grace, should be neglected; and learning is a disgrace to
us when it degenerates into pedantry. If we stand upon the punctilio
for places, precedency, and titles, besides exposing our qualities to
be examined, tried, and contradicted, we render them vile and
contemptible; for as honor is beautiful when freely given, so it
becomes base when exacted or sought after.

CHAPTER
V.

OF
MORE INTERNAL HUMILITY.

We
often confess ourselves to be nothing, nay, misery itself, and the
refuse of the world; but would be very sorry that any one should
believe us, or tell others that we are really so miserable wretches.
On the contrary, we pretend to retire, and hide ourselves, so that
the world may run after us, and seek us out. We feign to wish
ourselves considered as the last in the company, and sit down at the
lowest end of the table; but it is with a view that we may be desired
to pass to the upper end. True humility never makes a show of
herself… A man that is truly humble would rather
another should say to him that he is miserable, and that he is
nothing, than to say it himself; at least, if he knows that any man
says so he does not contradict it [or feels sad or angry or seek to
excuse himself], but heartily agrees to it; for, believing
it himself firmly, he is pleased that others entertain the same
opinion.

EXPLAINING
THE LAWS OF FAST AND ABSTINENCE, FOR DAYS OF FAST AND ABSTINENCE

On days of fast, only one full meal is allowed, at which meat may be taken. Two other meatless meals, which together are less than the full meal, are also permitted. Only liquids may be taken between meals. The law of fast must be observed by all between the ages of 21 and 59 inclusive under pain of mortal sin.

If fasting poses a serious risk to health or impedes the ability to do necessary work, it does not oblige.

There are also certain days of abstinence.

On days of complete abstinence (such as all Fridays), meat and soup or gravy made from meat (or anything made from meat) may not be taken at all under pain of mortal sin.

On days of partial abstinence, meat (and soup or gravy made from meat) can be eaten only once. The law of abstinence must be observed by everyone age 7 and older under pain of mortal sin.

There is no obligation of fast or abstinence on a holy day of obligation, even if it falls on a Friday (such as Christmas).

Eucharistic Fast

1. Priests and faithful before Mass or Holy Communion – whether it is the morning, afternoon, evening, or Midnight Mass – must abstain for three hours from solid foods and alcoholic beverages, and for one hour from non-alcoholic beverages. Water does not break the fast.

2. The infirm, even if not bedridden, may take non-alcoholic beverages and that which is really and properly medicine, either in liquid or solid form, before Mass or Holy Communion without any time limit.

Priests and faithful who are able to do so are exhorted to observe the old and venerable form of the Eucharistic fast (from foods and liquids from midnight). All those who will make use of these concessions must compensate for the good received by becoming shining examples of a Christian life and principally with works of penance, self-denial and charity (and fervent prayer).

(Pope Pius XII, Sacram Communionem, 1957)

The Old and Venerable Form of Fasting

Priests and faithful who are able to do so are exhorted to observe the old and venerable form of fasting (see Black Fast below). However, since this strictness may not be suitable for most people a compensation may be made, and that is that only one full meal a day or two smaller meals that is about the same (or a little more than the full meal per day) be taken. So either one of these per day and not both as the modern day weak and pathetic fast permits. Most people should be able to do this on regular fasts. However, this fast is much harder to practice during Lent. In general, the less one eats the better, and if the above fast is too much for a person, then he should try to eat three smaller meals a day instead and skipping the full meal or eating a full meal and one smaller meal and skipping the second small meal. All those who will make use of these concessions must compensate for the good received by becoming shining examples of a Christian life and principally with works of penance, self-denial and charity (and fervent prayer).

The Black Fast (from Catholic Encyclopedia)

This form of fasting, the most rigorous
in the history of church legislation, was marked by austerity
regarding the quantity and quality of food permitted on fasting days
as well as the time wherein such food might be legitimately taken.

In the first place more than one
meal was strictly prohibited. At this meal flesh meat, eggs, butter,
cheese, and milk were interdicted (Gregory I, Decretals IV, cap.
vi; Trullan Synod, Canon 56). Besides these restrictions abstinence
from wine, specially during Lent, was enjoined (Thomassin, Traité
des jeûnes de l'Église, II, vii). Furthermore, during
Holy Week the fare consisted of bread, salt, herbs, and water
(Laymann, Theologia Moralis, Tr. VIII; De observatione jejuniorum,
i). Finally, this meal was not allowed until sunset [for
most people, a 4 hour wait period (at least) before the meal may be
more suitable]. St. Ambrose (De Elia et jejunio, sermo vii, in
Psalm CXVIII), St. Chrysostom (Homil. iv in Genesim), St. Basil
(Oratio i, De jejunio) furnish unequivocal testimony concerning the
three characteristics of the black fast. The keynote of their
teaching is sounded by St. Bernard (Sermo. iii, no. 1, De
Quadragesima), when he says "hitherto we have fasted only until
none" (3 p.m.) "whereas, now" (during Lent) "kings
and princes, clergy and laity, rich and poor will fast until
evening". It is quite certain that the days of Lent (Muller,
Theologia Moralis, II, Lib. II, Tr. ii, sect. 165, no. 11) as well as
those preceding ordination were marked by the black fast. This
regime continued until the tenth century when the custom of taking
the only meal of the day at three o'clock was introduced
(Thomassin, loc. cit.). In the fourteenth century the hour of taking
this meal was changed to noon-day (Muller, loc. cit.). Shortly
afterwards the practice of taking a collation in the evening began to
gain ground (Thomassin, op. cit., II, xi). Finally, the custom of
taking a crust of bread and some coffee in the morning was introduced
in the early part of the nineteenth century. During the past fifty
years, owing to ever changing circumstances of time and place, the
Church has gradually relaxed the severity of penitential
requirements, so that now little more than a vestige of former rigour
obtains.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING IS SINFUL BIRTH CONTROL (NFP)

Saint Caesar of Arles: “AS OFTEN AS HE KNOWS HIS WIFE WITHOUT A DESIRE FOR CHILDREN...WITHOUT A DOUBT HE COMMITS SIN.” (W. A. Jurgens, The Faith of The Early Fathers, Vol. 3: 2233)

Pope Pius XI, Casti Connubii (#’s 53-56), Dec. 31, 1930: “But no reason, however grave, may be put forward by which anything intrinsically against nature may become conformable to nature and morally good. Since, therefore, the conjugal act is destined primarily by nature for the begetting of children, those who in exercising it deliberately frustrate its natural powers and purpose sin against nature and commit a deed which is shameful and intrinsically vicious.

“Small wonder, therefore, if Holy Writ bears witness that the Divine Majesty regards with greatest detestation this horrible crime and at times has punished it with death. As St. Augustine notes, ‘Intercourse even with one’s legitimate wife is unlawful and wicked where the conception of offspring is prevented.’ Onan, the son of Judah, did this and the Lord killed him for it (Gen. 38:8-10).”

In reality, the argument against Natural Family Planning can be summed up very simply. Catholic dogma teaches us that the primary purpose of marriage (and the conjugal act) is the procreation and education of children.

Pope Pius XI, Casti Connubii (# 17), Dec. 31, 1930: “The primary end of marriage is the procreation and the education of children.”

Pope Pius XI, Casti Connubii (# 54), Dec. 31, 1930: “Since, therefore, the conjugal act is destined primarily by nature for the begetting of children, those who in exercising it deliberately frustrate its natural powers and purpose sin against nature and commit a deed which is shameful and intrinsically vicious.”

“Since, therefore, openly departing from the uninterrupted Christian tradition some recently have judged it possible solemnly to declare another doctrine regarding this question, the Catholic Church, to whom God has entrusted the defense of the integrity and purity of morals, standing erect in the midst of the moral ruin which surrounds her, in order that she may preserve the chastity of the nuptial union from being defiled by this foul stain, raises her voice in token of her divine ambassadorship and through Our mouth proclaims anew: any use whatsoever of matrimony exercised in such a way that the act is deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life is an offence against the law of God and of nature, and those who indulge in such are branded with the guilt of a grave sin.”

Therefore, even though NFP does not directly interfere with the marriage act itself, as its defenders love to stress, it makes no difference. NFP is condemned because it subordinates the primary end (or purpose) of marriage and the marriage act (the procreation and education of children) to the secondary ends.

NFP subordinates the primary end of marriage to other things, by deliberately attempting to avoid children (i.e., to avoid the primary end) while having marital relations. NFP therefore inverts the order established by God Himself. It does the very thing that Pope Pius XI solemnly teaches may not lawfully be done. And this point crushes all of the arguments made by those who defend NFP; because all of the arguments made by those who defend NFP focus on the marriage act itself, while they blindly ignore the fact that it makes no difference if a couple does not interfere with the act itself if they subordinate and thwart the primary PURPOSE of marriage.

Despite this Magisterial teaching which condemns Natural Family Planning, simple logic will tell Catholics that it is wrong. If the Church has condemned artificial contraception because it prevents the conception of offspring, why would it be permissible to do the same thing by means of a different method? It is as if the desire or thought to murder someone is not sinful according to NFP advocates, but only the act of murder.

In publications promoting NFP, the fertile period of the wife is sometimes classified as “not safe” and “dangerous,” as though generating new life were considered a serious breach of national security and a little infant a treacherous criminal! This is truly abominable.

Could it be more clear that those who subscribe to this type of behavior and this method shut God and children out and replace them with their own selfish agenda?

Tobias 6:17 – “The holy youth Tobias approaches his bride Sara after three days of prayer, not for fleshly lust but only for the love of posterity. Having been instructed by the Archangel Saint Raphael that to engage in the marital act he must be moved rather for love of children than for lust. For they who in such manner receive matrimony, as to shut out God from themselves, and from their mind, and to give themselves to their lust, as the horse and mule, which have not understanding, over them the Devil hath power.”

The word matrimony means “the office of motherhood.” Those who use NFP attempt to avoid matrimony (the office of motherhood) and shut out God from themselves.

Natural Family Planning also involves a lack of faith on the part of those who use and promote it. Do the couples who use NFP, or the priests who promote it, possess supernatural faith in the providence of God? Do they believe that God is the one who sends life? Does anyone have a right to have 3 children when God willed them to have 10? God is perfectly aware of each couple’s needs, and he knows precisely what they can handle. Those with the true Catholic Faith should be totally unconcerned with charts and calendars. These are all unnatural instruments which frustrate God’s will. Disregard this nonsense and accept the fact that God will not send you any children that you cannot handle. He will not burden you with anything too heavy, for His yoke is always easy and His burden always light. If NFP’ers had their way, there wouldn’t be any families with over 10 children, nor the many saints who came from these families (e.g., Saint Catherine of Siena, 23rd child of 25). Priests who promote “Natural” Family Limitation, and couples who use it, are guilty of serious sin. It is contrary to the teaching of the Church, and it is contrary to the natural law. It is an insult to the providence of God, and it is an utter lack of faith. Why will you not practice chastity instead of committing the mortal sin of NFP. True sanctification comes through the virtue of chastity! As you can read, no reason, however grave can be accepted which subordinates the primary end (or purpose) of marriage and the marriage act (the procreation and education of children) to the secondary ends.

Pope Pius XI, Casti Connubii (#’s 53-56), Dec. 31, 1930: “But no reason, however grave…” Hell will be long for those who practice NFP against the natural law. We implore all priests and laymen to accept the Church’s teaching on this topic, and regain faith in God’s providence. If you have been convinced to believe in this abominable heresy that contradicts the natural law, repent and confess your sin immediately.

Taken from The
Secret of Sanctity of St. John of the Cross, by Fr. Lucas
of St. Joseph, O.C.D., Bruce, Milwaukee, 1962. (Fr. Lucas was
martyred by the Communists in Spain in 1936.)

Chapter 7

RASH JUDGMENT

St. John [of the Cross] repeats the
admonition relative to judgment of one’s neighbor in the first
of his Four Maxims to a Religious. As he says: “Those
who fail in charity toward their neighbor fail likewise to profit by
any other works of virtue they may perform, and they continually go
from bad to worse.”It is sad to think that after many
years in religious life one has lost not only the merit of his
virtuous actions but has actually fallen into the dangerous state of
sin. Let us consider in logical order the evils which may result from
a neglect of this important admonition. There is, first of all, a
tendency to judge one’s neighbor unfavorably, and this is
termed “rash judgment.” This is equally serious, whether
interior or exterior. St. John says that this consists in mental
criticism and murmuring resulting in rash statements against one’s
neighbor. This is corroborated in the celebrated passage of St.
James: “If any man think himself to be religious, not bridling
his tongue, this man’s religion is vain.”In every
order, religious, social, or moral, there are certain truths which
are fundamental because everyone agrees to them. In secondary truths
and the appreciation of details and concrete acts, each one sees them
according to his own dispositions. Thus in the actions of our
neighbor we see only the external action and know little or nothing
of the motives which prompted him to do this act. In order to
judge correctly whether a person is worthy of praise or blame,
knowledge is a principal requisite. Usually we are ignorant of the
true principle of morality guiding the actions of others, therefore
it is inevitable that when we judge according to our own light we are
often guilty of error.In every rank of life there are
narrow-minded individuals whose horizon is limited to the private and
public life of their neighbor. This is not only deplorable but it is
a genuine spiritual infirmity.According to St. Thomas
Aquinas, the tendency to judge one’s neighbor proceeds from two
causes: “…either the person is evil-minded and
unconsciously judges others by his own evil dispositions or he
harbors such envy, hatred, or contempt for his neighbor that he
experiences a secret delight in thinking evil of him and readily
believes any misconception of his neighbor’s actions.”
This teaching of St. Thomas should teach us to restrain our judgment
of our neighbor, because suspicious and unfavorable judgments are a
revelation of the infirmities of our own souls. When we are caught by
a keen observer in a merciless judgment against our neighbor we
should blush at the portrayal of a quality in ourselves which even
natural pride would prompt us to conceal. It was St. Bonaventure who
said, “When you perceive anything reprehensible in your
neighbor, turn your eyes on yourself; before you cast any judgment,
examine yourself well, and condemn in yourself that which you would
have condemned in him.”…St. Paul is even more
severe when he says, “thou art inexcusable O man, whosoever
thou art, that judgest. For wherein thou judgest another, thou
condemnest thyself.” To the Corinthians he adds, “Therefore
judge not… until the Lord come, who will bring to light the
hidden things of darkness.” The same exhortation is found in
St. Luke: “Condemn not and you shall not be condemned. Forgive
and you shall be forgiven. … For with the same measure that
you shall mete, it shall be measured out to you.” Such words
are indicative of the fact that on the day of final judgment the same
standards will be applied to us personally as we have applied to our
fellow men. …

Only
when man possesses a deep self-knowledge and a broader knowledge of
men will he find himself mild in his judgment of others. Yet this is
the goal we must strive for, first in our thoughts, since charitable
thoughts transform material actions into acts of supernatural value,
and this only when we are completely imbued with the spirit of divine
love and mercy. … Regardless of the actions of our fellow
men we must always view them in the spirit of charity and in the
realization that “judgment is the Lord’s, not man’s.”
…

Our
judgments are usually based on personal antagonism, ignorance, and
perhaps a clash of personalities; yet it is not expedient that we
rely on such excuses for judging our neighbor. … we are bound
to regulate our charity and justice toward our neighbor in accordance
with God’s law of charity. This regulation must begin in the
interior since it is our thoughts which govern our speech and our
actions. Charitable thoughts will beget charitable words; likewise
envious and uncharitable thoughts dispose us to hideous sins against
charity and justice.

Everyone
is aware from personal experience that rash judgment is moral
poisoning. Once the imagination is given free reign then we find
evil in others. The insidious poison which we have administered to
ourselves increases with each uncharitable thought. We soon find it
difficult to be amiable and indulgent toward our fellow religious and
as the poison spreads we become more and more intolerant of any
weakness, until even the smallest fault becomes magnified to alarming
proportions. We can no longer remain master of our speech when we
have arrived at this stage because it is always true, “Out of
the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”The
evils resulting from lack of interior silence and uncharitable speech
are without number and God alone knows the damage caused both in the
cloister and out of it once this evil has been indulged in. If a
rock is dislodged from the top of the mountain, we cannot measure the
destruction it will cause until it finally comes to rest in the
valley below. This is an apt picture of the slanderous tongue which
is a weight from the heart. As it breaks from the sanctuary in which
it has been nurtured it hurtles into an abyss which becomes
fathomless, leaving bitterness and disaster in its wake. Such words
may be filled with resentment and anger, envy and jealousy, but they
are always weighted with selfishness, mirroring the narrow soul from
which they emerged. They are as arrows shot from one heart to
another, communicating to each new victim poison and bitterness.
Innocent and pure aspirations become dissipated; souls which have
lived in happiness are filled with discontent; but those who have
harbored mutual distrust are filled with malice and hatred. What,
then, shall stop these icy waves of uncharitableness launched forth
by a cold and restless heart in a moment of imprudent confidence? God
alone knows, as He alone reads the depths of a human heart.It
is not our intention to study the sins of the tongue in their various
forms since volumes are written on this subject. We need only to say
that all the evil aspects related to rash judgment are applicable to
slander and faultfinding, which evils cover a vaster field than the
subject treated here. Rash judgment is self-toxic, whereas slander
and faultfinding serve to poison all whom it contacts. Thus a single
slanderous word, imprudently uttered, can be more destructive than a
drop of poison assimilated by the system, destroying the vital
principles of an organic being. Such words cool charity, destroy the
most prudent sensibility, and poison the finest sentiments. Each one
can study for himself the disastrous effects of backbiting,
especially when he hears a person whom he had hitherto esteemed being
the subject of such insidious slander. As a result he finds himself
becoming suspicious and distrustful, even of his friend, carefully
watching for evidences of the evil report. Distrust magnifies the
defects of those under observation making it very difficult for us to
be outwardly charitable toward them. These sins of the tongue are the
worst of all enemies against charity since they ruin peace and
confidence. Therefore the Holy Ghost warns us: “A wicked word
shall change the heart, making what is good, evil — what is
life, death — and the tongue is the ruler of them.”Another
danger which threatens those occupied in observing the defects of
their neighbors is the consequence of these actions. In speaking
about this St. John cites the example of Lot’s wife being
changed into a pillar of salt, claiming that the wretched souls
occupied with other people’s actions likewise acquire saline
qualities themselves. Just as salt becomes hard, so too, the soul
which indulges in meddling in another’s affairs, becomes
hardened and unkind toward those around him. His haughtiness and
intolerance serve to build a wall of separation between the offender
and the offended, causing numerous unreasonable and illogical
judgments to be passed. Salt is likewise a sign of barrenness; life
cannot develop near rocks of salt. Neither can a soul engaged in
uncharitableness do otherwise than render barren all that they may
contact. Their skill in revealing another’s weakness and their
hard and merciless criticisms cause generous hearts to feel
completely depressed and insecure in their company. Near them there
is only barrenness, there is no joy; there is no life.It is
impossible for simplicity and confidence to exist where restless and
uncharitable souls are continually observing others for the sole
pleasure of malicious criticism. Such a spirit is bound to breed
discontent and an attitude of reserve which soon degenerates into
jealousy and suspicion. Eventually the charm of religious life, which
is love and mutual confidence, is destroyed and a rigid formalism
replaces the original spirit of peace. Nothing remains but the letter
of the law, that letter, which, according to St. Paul “…kills,
instead of quickening.”It is certain that while we live
among men we shall have to bear with their weaknesses and they, in
turn, will have to bear with ours; but we must try to live oblivious
of the faults which are ever present in human nature. It is with this
in mind that St. John of the Cross admonishes us to refrain from
interfering in the affairs of our neighbor, to detach ourselves from
created objects, and to regulate our affections toward our fellow
men.Never should the faults of our neighbor be discussed with
our fellow men, unless with one who has the authority to correct the
situation, and then only in the spirit of the greatest charity. This
is insisted on by St. John of the Cross when he says: “Never
under the pretext of zeal, or of charity, reveal what we know about
our neighbor save to the person who has a right to hear of this, and
then with great charity, and at the proper time.”

If
those who are afflicted with undue curiosity about their neighbor’s
welfare would thus assiduously make reparation for the faults they
observe in others, then they would be less inclined to notice the
trivial actions of those around them. Doing this would further the
plans of Divine Providence to make religious houses the delightful
garden where the tree of love would be preserved in its full
luxuriance. It is here that Christ meant the great commandment to
grow and bear much fruit: “Love one another as I have loved
you….”St. John of the Cross shows us clearly
that to be just to God and to fulfill His command of mutual love and
understanding we must be merciful to men in thought and deed. Our
fraternal charity is then but the fulfillment of our filial piety
toward God. Not only in fact, but in reality, Christ has identified
Himself with each one of our neighbors so intimately that charity
toward our neighbor is but a means of serving Christ Himself. Thus,
whether we are living in the cloister or in the world, as long as our
hearts remain a garden of delight for Christ through the spirit and
practice of charity then “…we are the good odor of
Christ unto God, …to others the odor of life unto life….”

From
Spirago-Clark’s The Catechism Explained (1899), pp. 402-404.

3.
Furthermore, we ought to refrain from everything that may wound our
neighbor’s honor. Thus suspicion,
detraction, slander, and
abuseare forbidden, also
listening with pleasure when our neighbor is
spoken against.

Suspicion
implies malice of heart; detraction, slander (both of
which are directed against the absent) and abuse (which is
directed against one who is present), are sins of the tongue;
listening with gratification when another is evilly spoken of,
is a sin, if it is in the evil speaking that we take pleasure.

The
Pharisee in the Temple took for granted that the publican was a
sinner and how greatly he was mistaken (Luke xviii.)! Job’s
three friends thought he must needs be ungodly merely because he was
afflicted by God. Simon the Pharisee thought the Magdalen, when he
saw her at Our Lord’s feet, was still a sinner, but he deceived
himself; she was then a penitent (Luke vii. 39 seq.). When St. Paul
shipwrecked on the island of Malta, lighted a fire, a viper, coming
out of the sticks, fastened on his hand; in consequence of this the
inhabitants of the island instantly judged him to be a murderer,
pursued by divine vengeance (Acts xxviii.). A goldsmith had an
apprentice who bore a very good character. One day he found two
precious stones concealed in a hole in the wall close to the boy’s
head. He directly accused him of theft, chastised him soundly, and
drove him out of the house. Soon after he again discovered two stones
in exactly the same place. He watched, and found they were put there
by a magpie which he had in the house, and deeply regretted his rash
judgment, when it was too late to repair his fault. If he had
detected the boy in dishonesty, he would not have done wrong in
suspecting him. People judge of others by themselves; for the
affections are apt to mislead the understanding. He who is not evil
himself does not lightly think evil of others, whereas a bad man
readily concludes his neighbor to be as bad as himself. Molten
metal takes the shape of the mould into which it is poured; so every
man’s judgment of what he sees and hears takes its shape from
his own feelings. The most wholesome aliments disagree with the man
whose digestion is out of order; thus a corrupted mind always takes
an evil view of things, while a good man puts the best construction
on everything. “I would far rather err,” says St.
Anselm, “by thinking good of a bad man than by thinking evil
of a good man.” “Charity thinketh no evil” (1
Cor. xiii. 5). The just man, in whom dwells the spirit of love,
even when he sees an action which is unquestionably reprehensible,
does not allow his thoughts to dwell on it; he leaves the
judgment of it to God. This is what St. Joseph did, in regard to his
spouse, the Blessed Virgin (Matt. i. 19). “Let none of you
imagine evil in your heart against his friend” (Zach. viii.
17). Trust others, if you would have others trust you. Trust
engenders confidence, and mistrust the want of it.

2.
Detraction consists in disclosing the fault
committed by another without necessity. … Some people,
like hyenas, who tear from their graves and devour dead bodies,
deface the memory of the [living and] dead by their malicious
words and bring to light faults long since forgotten. Like
insects which alight, not on the sound part of the apple, but on the
decayed portion, detractors do not enlarge on the virtues of the
deceased, but they pitilessly dwell upon their faults. They may
be compared to dogs who prefer carrion to fresh meat, for they
pass over the good which they cannot help seeing in their neighbor,
and care to keep alive the remembrance of his failings. The sin
of detraction is one most frequently met with. “Rarely,”
says St. Jerome, “do we find anyone who is not ready to blame
his neighbor’s conduct.” This comes from pride, for
many people imagine they exalt themselves in proportion as they decry
others. Detraction is a hateful sin. It is an ugly and shameless
thing to do, if one goes to a stranger’s house and spies into
every corner; but how much more so to scrutinize and criticize our
neighbor’s course of life!Mud should be covered over,
not stirred up, for no one can touch it without defiling himself. “O
fool!” exclaims St. Alphonsus. “Thou dost declaim against
the sin of another, and meanwhile, by evil speaking, dost commit a
far greater sin than that thou blamest in thy neighbor.”
Besides the detractor in disclosing the faults of another,
discloses his own, for he shows that he has no charity. However, to
speak of another man’s sin is not wrong,
unless one has the intention of lowering him in the eyes of others
[without necessity or justice, such as by helping others not to be
deceived by evil people or heretics, showing them their evil ways and
words that they may not fall into these sins or errors themselves and
hence learn from it]; it is not detraction to tell some one else of
it in order to prevent a repetition of the sin. One may also blame
the fault of another, if this may be useful to a third person; but it
must be done from a sense of duty, and the sin
rather than the sinner is to be condemned.
The crime of any malefactor who has been brought to justice may be
freely spoken of, as it is already made public. Tale-telling is a
form of detraction; it consists in repeating to another what a third
person has said of him. Tale-telling ruins the peace of families,
and is a fruitful source of feuds. It is worse than ordinary
detraction because it not only destroys the reputation of one’s
neighbor, but puts an end to friendly relations and brotherly love.
Therefore God says: “The whisperer and double-tongued are
accursed” (Ecclus. xxviii. 15).

3.
Slander consists in attributing to one’s neighbor faults
of which he is not guilty. If the accusation is made publicly it is
called a libel.

Slander
or calumny is taking away a man’s good name. Putiphar’s
wife accused Joseph to her lord of having attempted to lead her
astray (Gen. xxxix.). The Jews accused Our Lord before Pilate of
having perverted the nation and forbidden to give tribute to the
emperor (Luke xxiii. 2). Exaggeration of another’s fault
also comes under the head of calumny. The motives that actuate the
slanderer are generally revenge, hatred or ingratitude; his sin
is twofold, for he lies, and at the same time destroys his neighbor’s
reputation. “He that backbiteth secretly is like a serpent that
biteth in silence” (Ecclus. x. 11).

Some
slanderers accompany their calumnies with a jest, or accentuate them
with a witty or amusing speech [such as irony]. This is the
greatest cruelty of all, for the slander which might have passed in
at one ear and out at the other, is then firmly lodged in the mind of
all who hear it. Again, slanders that are prefaced by words of eulogy
make more impression on the hearer, just as an arrow flies with more
force and penetrates more deeply if the bow be drawn back first. Of
such persons David says: “The poison of asps is under their
lips” (Ps. xiii. 3).

4.
Abuse consists in making public the low opinion which one has
of another.

In
evil speaking one makes known a man’s fault behind his back,
abuse utters it in his presence. Abuse therefore stands in the
same relation to detraction as robbery to theft. While detraction and
slander undermine the good opinion others have of a man, abuse aims
at depriving him of the outward respect that is shown him. Semei
reviled King David; he called him a man of Belial, and threw stones
at him (2 Kings xvi. 5). The Jews reviled Our Lord; they called Him a
Samaritan, and said He had a devil (John viii. 48).

If
two men quarrel, the one who is in the wrong [or is overpowered]
usually resorts to abuse. The one who is in the right does not need
such weapons; truth conquers of itself. Sneers and sarcasms are a
form of this sin. Their object is to make a man ridiculous before
others and put him to confusion. By such unkind speeches one may
deeply wound one’s neighbor, and fill him with bitter
resentment. “The stroke of a whip maketh a blue mark, but the
stroke of the tongue will break the bones” (Ecclus. xxviii.
21).

5.
He who takes pleasure in listening to detraction commits the
same sin as the speaker to whom he listens.

He
who asperses his neighbor’s good name kindles a fire, and he
who listens to him throws fuel on it. Were it not for the latter, the
former would soon be silent. St. Ignatius says we should not talk
about our neighbor’s faults did we not find eager listeners.
St. Bernard says he cannot decide which is more blameworthy, the man
who slanders his neighbor, or he who lends his ear to the slanderer;
the only difference is that one serves the devil with his tongue, the
other with his ear. What do I care to know that such a one is a
wicked man? The knowledge only does me harm. How much better to spend
one’s pains on scrutinizing one’s own conduct. Our
Lord exhorts us to do this: “Cast first the beam out of thine
own eye, and then thou shalt see clearly to take out the mote from
thy brother’s eye” (Luke vi. 42). It is those who are
blind to their own faults who are most keenly alive to the faults of
others. Never listen to detraction. St. Augustine had these words
inscribed upon his dining-table: “There is not place at this
table for those who love to defame their neighbor.”

Hedge
in thy ears with thorns, hear not a wicked tongue” (Ecclus.
xxviii. 28). Slander is a three-edged sword; at one blow it inflicts
three wounds; it wounds the slanderer, for he commits a sin; it
wounds the slandered, because he is robbed of his good name; it
wounds the hearer, for he also falls into sin. And since the
slanderer injures the soul of him who listens to his calumny, he
imitates the serpent, whose poisoned words were the means of driving
Eve out of paradise.

4.
He who has injured his neighbor’s reputation is strictly bound
to restore his good name; either by apologizing, if the offence was
committed in private, or by publicly retracting his words, if they
were spoken before others.

Any
one who has unjustly diminished his neighbor’s reputation, is
bound to make satisfaction, according to the nature of the offence.
It is not enough to draw the arrow out of the wound, the hurt must be
healed; nor is it enough to desist from evil-speaking; the injury
done must be set right. That is bitter to human nature, for it
requires no slight self-humiliation. Moreover, it is almost
impossible fully to make amends for calumny; it is easy to break a
seal, but difficult to repair it so that no one can perceive that it
has been broken. An ink-spot is soon made on a sheet of paper, but no
efforts will remove all traces of the blo.

5.
Those who do not endeavor to repair the harm they have done by
slandering their neighbor, cannot obtain pardon from God, nor
absolution from the priest.

What
are the Reasons which should Deter us from Injuring our Neighbor s
Good Name?

1.
He who is severe in his judgment of his neighbor, will in his turn be
judged severely by God.

Our
Lord says: “Judge not [unjustly], that you may not be judged”
(Matt, vii. 1). “For with what measure you mete, it shall be
measured to you again” (v. 2). “Condemn not and you shall
not be condemned” (Luke vi. 37). [Our Lord tells us to judge
righteous judgments instead of rash and unjust judgments: “Judge
not according to the appearance, but judge just judgment.”
(John 7:24)]…

2.
To judge one’s fellow-man is to commit an offence against God,
for it is an usurpation of His rights.

There
is one Lawgiver and Judge; but who art thou that [unjustly or rashly]
judgest thy neighbor?” (Jas. iv. 12.) “Who art thou that
judgest another man’s servant?” (Rom. xiv. 4.)…

3.
He who robs another of his good name is often severely punished by
God upon earth; not unfrequently he is overtaken by the same calamity
which he sought to bring on his neighbor.

A
man of evil tongue shall not be established upon the earth (Ps.
Cxxxix. 12). Jezabel, the wife of King Achab, suborned two wicked men
to falsely accuse Naboth, who would not give up his vineyard to the
king, of blasphemy. Retribution eventually fell upon her; she was
thrown from the palace window, trampled upon by horses and eaten by
dogs (3 Kings xxi.)

It
is now no uncommon thing for the slanderer to meet with the self-same
fate which he prepared for another, as the following story shows: St.
Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal, had a favorite page, who used to
distribute her alms. One of the king’s servants, who was
jealous of the large share of the queen’s favor enjoyed by that
page, calumniated him to the king, one day when he was out hunting.
The king believed the calumny; and going up to a lime-kiln which he
saw in the forest, he said to the proprietor: “To-morrow I
shall send a young man hither, who will ask you whether you have
executed the king’s orders; seize him instantly and cast him
into the kiln.” On the following morning the king dispatched
the queen’s page to the lime-burner with the message agreed
upon. On his way thither the young man passed a church, and as the
bell was ringing for Mass, he went in and assisted at the holy
sacrifice. Meanwhile the servant who had slandered him, curious to
know his fate, followed him, as he thought, to the lime-kiln, and on
arriving, eagerly asked if the king’s orders had been executed.
Almost before he had uttered the question, he was thrown into the
furnace. When the queen’s page shortly made his appearance, he
was told that the royal behest had been obeyed, and the workmen
expected a reward. On his return to the palace, the king was
astonished and horrified, and saw clearly that he had been foully
deceived. “He hath opened a pit and dug it, and he is fallen
into the hole he made” (Ps. vii. 16).

4.
He who indulges a habit of detraction is in danger of losing his
soul.

The
pulse does not always correctly indicate the progress of a fatal
disease, but if the tongue becomes black, it is a sure sign of
approaching dissolution. So many people are assiduous in their
prayers, are diligent churchgoers, and are considered to be pious,
but their tongue, wherewith they blacken the character of others,
infallibly indicates the mortal disease of their soul. To blast a
man’s reputation is a great sin, because his good name is
better than great riches (Prov. xxii. 1). It is a kind of murder,
because it destroys a man’s life as a citizen, i.e., his social
standing, which depends on the repute in which he is held. It is also
sinful because thereby one causes distress to one’s neighbor.
The man of honor values his good name above everything. He would
rather part with his money, with all he possesses, with life itself,
than lose his honor.

The
word of God proclaims that all who wants to obtain Salvation must
strive to live in Chastity (according to one's state in life),
Humility, Obedience, and Love of God, in the true Catholic Faith, by
renouncing all kinds of heresies and heretics.

Pope
Pius IV,
Council of Trent,
Sess 14, Nov. 11, 1563, on Matrimony: “If
anyone says that the married state is to be preferred to the state of
virginity or celibacy, and that it is not better and happier to
remain in virginity or celibacy than to be united in matrimony (Matt.
19:11; 1 Cor. 7:25): let him be anathema.”
(Denzinger 980)

St.
John Chrysostom, A.D. 392: “That
virginity is good I do agree. But that it is even better than
marriage, this I do confess.
And if you wish, I will add that it is as much better than marriage
as Heaven is better than Earth, as much better as angels are better
than men.” (The
Faith of the Early Fathers,
Vol. 2: 1116)

You
should fast often with moderation and abstain from eating superfluous
food and drink in order to crucify your fleshly lusts and desires.
Fasting is in truth one of the greatest ways to be victorious against
fleshly lusts and desires along with the Rosary and spiritual
reading.

Let
every man understand that whenever he sins or speaks ungodly words
and blasphemy, he murders himself and gives scandal to his brothers
and sisters who beholds this behaviour in a spiritual way. To give
others occasion of sin is the worst of all sins! Remember this and
you will always fear the Lord and remain in humility! No one should
think himself better than his neighbour; for all have sinned and
fallen short of the glory of God!It
is of great importance not to attend any kind of dance, ball,
discotheque or the pub. Your eternal soul depends on it.

Be
sure to not associate with worldly and ungodly people who refuse to
obey the will of God, for they will tempt you with their sinful and
ungodly life, and you will not escape punishment for being a friend
with an unrepentant sinner, unless for the express purpose of his
conversion. As all saints exclaim: most people that go to hell, go
there because they sought human approval and friendship rather than
friendship with God!

There
will be no friendships in hell. In hell everyone will hate one
another, and the more a person knew another, the more will that
person hate the other, since that person was the greater cause of his
eternal damnation. If this is so with friends, what then, will it be
in regards to your own family? Accursed be you my wife, who led me to
these sins of lust! Accursed be you my children, who after following
my bad examples, fell headlong down to hell to my greater sorrow!
Accursed by you my father and mother, for giving me bad advice, and
accursed be me, wretched and sad, forever more in this lake of
eternal fire!

In
hell there will be perfect hatred for one another. One would rather
be alone in hell if the option was given him, but this will not be.
You will torment each other to the utmost in hell for all eternity,
since you led each other down to this place of torments by your bad
living and example. How much a person will hate another in hell is
indeed impossible for us still living to understand, but that the
hatred will be perfect, infinite and eternal, is easy to grasp!

"Most people fail to see
that the sin of the Angels was a thought of revolt, and as a result a
third part of those glorious spirits lost their thrones in Heaven. It
was the eating of a little fruit by our First Mother, Eve, that
proved the undoing of the human race. Was it not an act of
disobedience that deprived Saul of his throne, and was it not a
sinful glance that led holy David to the commission of a heinous
crime? An act of vanity too, lost him 70,000 of his subjects. Did not
the venerable Eleazar sacrifice his life rather than eat swine's
flesh? And what about the death of Oza and Ahio for daring to touch
the Ark? You fail to see that it is not the trifling act which is
wrong, but the principle involved: the malice of the offence against
an infinite God, to whom we owe our love, our gratitude and our
allegiance. Surely, if God died on account of sin, sin must be
dreadful. If sin is punished by Hell-fire, sin must be enormous. When
you make light of sin, you judge not Catholics, but God Himself."

Sadly,
only death and hell will serve to wake up the majority of the people
reading this! You will read this and then continue in your sloth and
worldliness, or you will have a short lived spiritual fervor that
will cool as times goes by! The greatest error among those people
that are condemned to hell are that they presume that they are in the
state of grace and fit for heaven, thus showing of their pride and
arrogance in that they do not even consider themselves as great
sinners, who really do nothing at all to better themselves and their
bad living, and who do not even consider their unworthiness of
heaven, and the possibility of them actually being on the road to
destruction. God condemns such presumption. We are sinful creatures
who are able to fall into sin at every moment of our life. We must
always trust in God and his mercy, not on our own strength. A person
who is really humble will never think of himself that he is already
saved while still living on earth. He will have death before his eyes
and the constant thought of the possibility of losing God though sin.
These and like thoughts will make him constant in the prayers to God
for help to achieve salvation, and the grace to avoid sin. A person
who does not pray to God for help to achieve salvation, is already
condemned and will not make it!

INFORMATION
ABOUT US AND OUR MISSION

God Bless You!
We are three unworthy servants of our God and Lord Jesus Christ who, by the grace of God, live like monks in chastity, self-denial and humility and in dedicating our lives to love God above all, while spreading Jesus’ words in St. Bridget’s Revelations all over the world. Our mission is to gather brothers and sisters who have the good will to preach, teach and spread these Holy Revelations to our beloved brothers and sisters in the world. Please put a link to our homepage and tell all your friends, relatives and everyone you know about this site and the wonderful words of our Lord for the salvation of souls. If you are a preacher, we hope and pray that you will preach these words from the Holy Spirit to your whole congregation.

Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.”
This verse clearly teaches that in order to be saved you need to save yourself and others from hell. It also clearly teaches that if you are not trying to save souls, you are, in fact, damaging and scattering souls. And Christ says that those who do not try to save souls are his enemies. So, are you really doing all you can?

We humbly ask you all to print out copies of these books with a link to our homepage and give them free of charge to all your brothers and sisters. Go to the churches and hand them out or place them on vehicles parked for church services. We also suggest that you ask your congregation leader if he is willing to buy The Prophecies and Revelations of Saint Bridget of Sweden for his whole congregation at a discounted bulk rate. We also ask you to place copies of these great revelations everywhere: on doors, trees and other places where they can be seen by all in order to save as many souls as possible for our Lord Jesus Christ!

Millions of people are finding the truth every year through the material on our websites, and we need some helpers and co-workers to continue to reach more people. What we needs the most right now is helpers who can translate our articles into different languages for the salvation of souls. This can help millions of people to find the truth, and is a great way to reach out to our brothers and sisters of good will. If you feel inspired to help people find the truth, please contact us here:http://www.prophecyfilm.com/contact/

Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.”

Please contact us today and tell us you want to help us with making articles if you want to make a difference in the world and help our beloved brothers and sisters!

We are also looking for willing translators who have the skill to make a good translation of St. Bridget's Revelations into different languages.We are also in need of translators of other important articles into different languages for the salvation of souls. If you can help us on this important work, please contact us here: http://www.prophecyfilm.com/contact/. We are also looking for someone who can make an audio book in mp3. We wish to have at least 50 translated languages, one day, with the help of you, the reader. Please help us find more books of Saint Bridget's Revelations in other languages. You will be rewarded greatly by our Lord Jesus Christ if you make an effort to spread His divine words to others in any way you can. You can help to spread the word of God in many ways: for example, by writing about our website and quoting the Revelations of St. Bridget or the things said in the videos with our link or our hyperlink added to the text on forums and blogs and the like so that people can find the wonderful words by Our Lord and His Mother and the videos on our site. You can upload the videos to different video sites, embed them on your own site or on forum sites and the like, and share them with your friends and even your enemies so that they may grow in the true faith or come to the true faith. You can also contact book salesmen and book publishers in order to ask them to buy these books from us or print these books for us. Please give out and share the books and DVD’s on our website free of charge and send e-mails to people about our site. We also beg you to pray the Rosary for their sake and plead with them to also begin to pray the Rosary (see How to Pray the Rosary). For a hardened heart will become soft by continuing praying the Rosary. No prayer is as powerful as the Holy Rosary! If you are able and willing to help us with the salvation of souls, please contact us and we will give you further instructions. For by helping other people’s souls, you help yourself!

Saint Bridget was canonized by Pope Boniface IX in the year 1391 and confirmed by Pope Martin V in the Council of Constance in the year 1415.
The Revelations of St. Bridget were accorded an exceptionally high degree of authenticity, authority and importance from an early date. Pope Gregory XI (1370-78) approved and confirmed them and judged them favorably, as did Boniface IX (1389-1404) in the papal Bull Ab origine mundi, par. 39 (7 Oct 1391). They were later examined at the Council of Constance (1414-18) and at the Council of Basel (1431-49), both judging them to be in conformity with the Catholic faith; The Revelations were also strongly defended by numerous highly regarded theologians, including Jean Gerson (1363-1429), Chancellor of the University of Paris and Cardinal Juan de Torquemada (1388-1468) (not to be confused with the inquisitor Tomas).

Saint Bridget was born of a noble and rich family. Her family was good in their faith according to our Lord Jesus Christ and they gave a lot of their riches to the uprising of churches and monasteries and also a lot to the poor. Once, at the age of ten, she saw the Lord crucified, and the Lord Jesus Christ said: “Look, how I suffer!” She thought it had happened at the same time and answered: “O Lord, who has done this to you?” The Lord answered: “Those, who despise me and forget my great love.” When her husband died she became a nun and gave away all of her riches. All of her prophecies have been fulfilled to this day and there are still a few left that shall be fulfilled.

Please do not forget to read these revelations of St. Bridget and other scriptures of God everyday to grow in spirit and virtue, because the devil will be doing everything in his power to make you stop reading God's word so that you will forget them and fall into sin. Do not forget to print out copies of these great revelations so that you always have them in your hand for when the great disasters which the Holy Bible warns about come to pass, and so that you do not rely (for example) on electricity that will not always be available.

This book is a mirror in which the soul can see its stains and learn what is pleasing to God and what displeases him. Read this book again and again and you will learn how you must love God and your neighbor, despise what is earthly and transient, striving after the everlasting and heavenly, enduring for Christ's sake the adversities of this world and despising its prosperity and enticements, thanking God in sickness, not taking pride in good health, not becoming presumptuous in good fortune nor downcast in trials.

St. Louis De Montfort (+1710): “Blessed Alan de la Roche who was so deeply devoted to the Blessed Virgin had many revelations from her and we know that he confirmed the truth of these revelations by a solemn oath. Three of them stand out with special emphasis: the first, that if people fail to say the 'Hail Mary' (the Angelic Salutation which has saved the world – Luke 1:28) out of carelessness, or because they are lukewarm, or because they hate it, this is a sign that they will probably and indeed shortly be condemned to eternal punishment.”

We highly recommend that all 15 decades of the Rosary be prayed daily. Our Lady repeatedly emphasized the importance of praying the Rosary each day in her messages at Fatima. She even said that Francisco would have to pray ‘many rosaries’ before he could go to Heaven. You should prioritize reading the word of God and praying before other activities to grow in the spirit. Praying all 15 decades of the Rosary each day can be accomplished in a variety of ways. However, for many it is best accomplished by praying a part of the Rosary at different times of the day, for example, the joyful mysteries in the morning, sorrowful mysteries at midday, and glorious mysteries in the evening. ‘Salve Regina’ only needs to be prayed at the end of the entire day’s rosary. An essential part of the Rosary is meditation on the mysteries, episodes in the life of Our Lord and Our Lady. This means thinking about them, visualizing them, considering the graces and merits displayed in them, and using them for inspiration to better know and love God. It is also common to focus on a particular virtue with each mystery.

Our Lady to St. Dominic (1214): “Dominic, do you know which weapon the Blessed Trinity wants to use to reform the world? ‘Oh, my Lady,’ answered St. Dominic, ‘you know far better than I do…’ Then Our Lady replied: ‘I want you to know that, in this kind of warfare, the battering ram has always been the Angelic Psalter (the Rosary) which is the foundation stone of the New Testament. Therefore if you want to reach these hardened souls and win them over to God, preach my Psalter (the Rosary).” (The Secret of the Rosary, p. 18.)

“Ever since Blessed Alan de la Roche re-established this devotion, the voice of the people, which is the voice of God, called it “The Rosary”. The word Rosary means "Crown of Roses," that is to say that every time people say the Rosary devoutly they place a crown of one hundred and fifty-three red roses and sixteen white roses upon the heads of Jesus and Mary. Being heavenly flowers, these roses will never fade or lose their exquisite beauty. In truth, they will stand before you for all eternity and bring you happiness and delight! Our Lady has shown her thorough approval of the name Rosary; she had revealed to several people that each time they say a Hail Mary they are giving her a beautiful rose and that each complete Rosary makes her a crown of roses.
The well-known Jesuit, Brother Alphonsus Rodriguez, used to say his Rosary with such fervor that he often saw a red rose come out of his mouth at each Our Father and a white rose at each Hail Mary. The red and white roses were equal in beauty and fragrance, the only difference being in their color.
The chronicles of Saint Francis tell of a young friar who had the praiseworthy habit of saying the Crown of Our Lady (the Rosary) every day before dinner. One day for some reason or other he did not manage to say it. The refectory bell had already been rung when he asked the Superior to allow him to say it before coming to the table, and having obtained the permission he withdrew to his cell to pray.
After he had been gone a long time the Superior sent another Friar to fetch him, and he found him in his room bathed in a heavenly light facing Our Lady who had two angels with her. Beautiful roses kept issuing from his mouth at each Hail Mary; the angels took them one by one, placing them on Our Lady's head, and she smilingly accepted them.
Finally two other friars who had been sent to find out what happened to the first two saw the same lovely scene, and Our Lady did not go away until the whole Rosary had been said.”
(The Secret of the Rosary by St. Louis De Montfort)

“Show me a new road to our Lord, pave it with all the merits of the saints, adorn it with their heroic virtues, illuminate and enhance it with the splendour and beauty of the angels, have all the angels and saints there to guide and protect those who wish to follow it. Give me such a road and truly, truly, I boldly say–and I am telling the truth–that instead of this road, perfect though it be, I would still choose the immaculate way of Mary. It is a way, a road without stain or spot, without original sin or actual sin, without shadow or darkness”.
(True devotion to Mary by St. Louis De Montfort)

We also recommend you read the Word of God (The Revelations, The Lives of the Saints, Good Catholic Books, The Catholic Bible) at least one to two hours every day until the moment of your death if it is possible. If you do not read enough everyday, your prayer will become empty since an ignorant person does not know what to ask and pray for in virtues and spiritual blessings. If you are unable to accomplish this right away, you should slowly but surely take steps to move to this point by making a resolution in your heart to never read or pray less than you have decided. Then when you have grown accustomed to maybe one hour reading and one hour praying per day, you can slowly try to add to this until you have reached your goal. It is much wiser to do it in this way and the goal will be reached much easier. For spiritual exercises are like most activities of the world: the more practice you have, the better you get. The best time for prayer is in the morning, since the mind is more clear from the thoughts and discussions of the world, so we advise you to always dedicate time in the morning for the Rosary. The Rosary is the most powerful weapon in existence against the devil and those who neglect it will indeed be eternally sorry for refusing to honor our Lady as she deserves! Think and reflect upon what greatness it is to be able to speak with the God of the whole creation and His Mother whenever we want. It is almost impossible for a man to be able to speak with a king or queen of this world, and yet the King of kings and his beloved Mother hear your every word. In truth, I tell you, that even one good word of prayer has more worth than all gold and jewels and an infinite amount of universes, for they will all perish, but God’s words will never perish. Think about how much you would concentrate and fight against distracting thoughts if someone were to tell you that you could have 10,000 dollars or a new car if you prayed a Rosary with full concentration and without yielding to distracting thoughts. This example should shame us all since we humans are, by our very nature, wicked at heart and are inclined to search for filth rather than gold (worldly things rather than heavenly ones). Everyone should try to remember this example, and then we will all be able to pray better which will bring us an everlasting, heavenly reward! The devils concentrate exceedingly much on getting a person to despise prayer in these ways: either they try to make you bored by it, or to have a difficulty in concentrating when praying, or to pray a little; for they know that prayer is the only way to salvation. The devices the devils use to distract you and lead you to hell in this age is are obviously worldly and ungodly media, video games and music and the like, but sins like the lust of the flesh, vanity and immodest clothing, gluttony, greed and pride among others also give them more power over the mind since the person searches for earthly comforts instead of heavenly ones.

St. Alphonsus (1760): “To a spiritual life the reading of holy books is perhaps not less useful than mental prayer. St. Bernard says reading instructs us at once in prayer, and in the practice of virtue. Hence he concluded that spiritual reading and prayer are the arms by which hell is conquered and paradise won… Hence St. Athanasius used to say that we find no one devoted to the service of the Lord that did not practice spiritual reading.” (T.S., p. 513)
'Wherefore, children, let us hold fast our discipline, and let us not be careless. For in it the Lord is our fellow-worker, as it is written, "to all that choose the good, God worketh with them for good." But to avoid being heedless, it is good to consider the word of the Apostle, "I die daily.'' For if we too live as though dying daily, we shall not sin. And the meaning of that saying is, that as we rise day by day we should think that we shall not abide till evening; and again, when about to lie down to sleep, we should think that we shall not rise up. For our life is naturally uncertain, and Providence allots it to us daily. But thus ordering our daily life, we shall neither fall into sin, nor have a lust for anything, nor cherish wrath against any, nor shall we heap up treasure upon earth. But, as though under the daily expectation of death, we shall be without wealth, and shall forgive all things to all men, nor shall we retain at all the desire of women or of any other foul pleasure. But we shall turn from it as past and gone, ever striving and looking forward to the day of Judgment. For the greater dread and danger of torment ever destroys the ease of pleasure, and sets up the soul if it is like to fall. 'Wherefore having already begun and set out in the way of virtue, let us strive the more that we may attain those things that are before. And let no one turn to the things behind, like Lot's wife, all the more so that the Lord hath said, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and turning back, is fit for the kingdom of heaven.
(St. Athanasius, The Life of Anthony)

Catholics must also understand that few are saved. Our Lord Jesus Christ revealed that the road to Heaven is straight and narrow and few find it, while the road to Hell is wide and taken by most (Mt. 7:13).

Matthew 7:13- “Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat. How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life, and few there are that find it!”

Luke 13:24- “Strive to enter by the narrow gate; for many, I say to you, shall seek to enter, and shall not be able.”

Scripture also teaches that almost the entire world lies in darkness, so much so that Satan is even called the “prince” (John 12:31) and “god” (2 Cor. 4:3) of this world.

1 John 5:19- “We know that we are of God, and the whole world is seated in wickedness.”

It’s the sad fact of history that most people in the world are of bad will and don’t want the truth. That’s why almost the whole world lies in darkness and on the road to perdition. This has been the case since the beginning. It was the case when only eight souls out of the world’s entire population (Noah and his family) escaped God’s wrath in the deluge that covered the entire earth, and when the Israelites rejected God’s law and fell into idolatry over and over again.
Only two men out of the whole population of Israelites (Joshua and Caleb) made it into the Promised Land since the people opposed God time upon time even though they had seen such miracles as the world had never seen!

Saint Leonard of Port Maurice [A.D. 1676-1751], on the fewness of the saved: “After consulting all the theologians and making a diligent study of the matter, he [Suarez] wrote, ‘The most common sentiment which is held is that, among Catholics, there are more damned souls than predestined souls.’ Add the authority of the Greek and Latin Fathers to that of the theologians, and you will find that almost all of them say the same thing. This is the sentiment of Saint Theodore, Saint Basil, Saint Ephrem, Saint John Chrysostom. What is more, according to Baronius it was a common opinion among the Greek Fathers that this truth was expressly revealed to Saint Simeon Stylites and that after this revelation, it was to secure his salvation that he decided to live standing on top of a pillar for forty years, exposed to the weather, a model of penance and holiness for everyone. Now let us consult the Latin Fathers. You will hear Saint Gregory saying clearly, "Many attain to faith, but few to the heavenly kingdom." Saint Anselm declares, "There are few who are saved." Saint Augustine states even more clearly, "Therefore, few are saved in comparison to those who are damned." The most terrifying, however, is Saint Jerome. At the end of his life, in the presence of his disciples, he spoke these dreadful words: "Out of one hundred thousand people whose lives have always been bad, you will find barely one who is worthy of indulgence."

Vision of Archdeacon of Lyons, who died the same day as St. Bernard (1153): "Know, Monsignor, that at the very hour I passed away, thirty-three thousand people also died. Out of this number, Bernard and myself went up to heaven without delay, three went to purgatory, and all the others fell into Hell." (Told to St. Vincent Ferrer)
Think about how almost the whole of Europe was fully Catholic and how the kingdoms outlawed false religions at this time, making this moment of time much more spiritually beneficial for souls than we see today! If so few were saved at this moment of time, how many are saved now? One can only shudder and cry at this thought!

Christ speaking about all the monks of the world at the time and the fewness of them being saved from hell: “They are in truth slaves, and there are very few who are different, yea so few that you hardly can find one in a hundred!”
(The Prophecies and Revelations of St. Bridget, Book 6 - Chapter 35)
If Christ says that not even one in a hundred monks will be saved, how many do you think will be saved of normal people who do not even try to renounce the world and its pleasures! Sadly, only death and hell will serve to wake up the majority of the people reading this! You will read this and then continue in your sloth and worldliness, or you will have a short lived spiritual fervor that will cool as times goes by! We pray with tears that you are not one of these Judases that will suffer for all eternity in hell!

“Hell is so hot inside that if the whole world and everything in it were on fire, it could not compare to that vast furnace. The various voices heard in the furnace all speak against God. They begin and end their speech with laments. The souls look like people whose limbs are forever being stretched without relief or pause.”
(The Prophecies and Revelations of St. Bridget, Book 4 - Chapter 7)

“Nicholas of Nice, speaking of the fire of Hell, says that nothing on earth could give an idea of it.
He adds that if all the trees of the forests were cut down, piled into a vast heap and set on fire, this terrible pile would not be a spark of Hell.”

“For the smallest sin, lusted after, is enough to damn anyone from the kingdom of Heaven, who does not repent.”
(The Prophecies & Revelations of St. Bridget, Book 1 - Chapter 32)

“Other Christians accepted Hell on faith, because Christ had said repeatedly and with solemn emphasis that there is a Hell, but Jacinta had seen it; and once she grasped the idea that God’s justice is the counterpart of His mercy, and that there must be a Hell if there is to be a Heaven, nothing seemed so important to her except to save as many souls as possible from the horrors she had glimpsed under the radiant hands of the Queen of heaven. Nothing could be too hard, nothing too small or too great to give up.”
(Our Lady of Fatima, p. 89)

Below is an interesting quote from St. Alphonsus concerning the idea of conversion to the Catholic Faith at the end of one’s life. Although these types of conversions are possible, they are extremely rare. St. Alphonsus states that these types of conversions proceed out of necessity, and that it would be very difficult for God to pardon such a person:
He that lives in sin till death shall die in sin. “You shall die in your sin.” (John 8:21.) It is true that, in whatsoever hour the sinner is converted, God promises to pardon him; but to no sinner has God promised the grace of conversion at the hour of death. “Seek the Lord while he may be found.” (Isaiah 55:6.) Then, there is for some sinners a time when they shall seek God and shall not find him. “You shall seek me, and shall not find me.” (John 7:34.) The unhappy beings will go to confession at the hour of death; they will promise and weep, and ask mercy of God, but without knowing what they do. A man who sees himself under the feet of a foe pointing a dagger to his throat, will shed tears, ask pardon, and promise to serve his enemy as a slave during the remainder of his life. But, will the enemy believe him? No; he will feel convinced that his words are not sincere–that his object is to escape from his hands, and that, should he be pardoned, he will become more hostile than ever. In like manner, how can God pardon the dying sinner, when he sees that all his acts of sorrow, and all his promises, proceed not from the heart, but from a dread of death and of approaching damnation.”
(Sermon 38: On the death of the sinner, par. 8)

Many people today do not care about helping other souls. They waste their time watching worldly tv, series, movies, playing video games and only searching for earthly pleasures rather than saving their own and other people’s souls. They do not spend even an hour a day on trying to save their own selves and others from the eternal hellfire. These heartless sinners will not enter into heaven for they did not really care about other people’s souls but only about what their next pleasure or enjoyment would be. (Mt. 12:30) Our Lord will surely cast them into an eternal hell fire for their lack of charity!
Imagine seeing your friend or family member being mercilessly tortured and you not being able to prevent this. Most people would do almost anything to prevent this situation from happening.
Yet, this is exactly what will happen unless you make an effort to save your friend. (Mt. 7:13-14) So, if you really care about your family and friends, please tell them about the Word of God and the great Revelations of St. Bridget. A single soul has more worth than an infinite amount of universes, for the material universe will cease to exist, but your friend's soul will never cease to exist. Always remember: A true friend is the one who tells the truth. As a Catholic, one has an obligation to attempt to convert friends and family members. Thus, if one is completely unaware of what his or her friend believes, then that person is not evangelizing the way he or she must evangelize. Therefore, let us all invite people to the marriage feast of our Lord as we have been bidden to do by Him! If we are satisfied that we have the faith, and are not zealous to spread it to others, how can we ever expect to be saved?

If you are able to do so, please make a donation in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to help us spread the Prophecies & Revelations of Saint Bridget of Sweden and the true Christian Faith all over the world to save our beloved brothers’ and sisters’ souls. To be able to reach this goal with your help, we need financial help to reach out to people, publish these books in different languages, and much more. We humbly ask you all to give from your abundance to help us save souls from the eternal hellfire.
Your financial support could possibly make part of the difference where a person will spend eternity.
It is written: “And whosoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42)

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"And whosoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward." Matthew 10:42